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Abstract:

A mobile communication system for collection, determination and/or
distribution of data to and from a server. The server executes analysis
algorithms that analyze data received from multiple communication and
data sources to develop predictions about the likelihood of future alerts
or threats in geographic locations. The server communicates the
predictions to communication devices based on the geographic locations
corresponding to each of the communication devices. The communication
system incorporates data through interfaces between data collection
components and mobile communication devices that includes a communication
element. The communication element transmits data between the data
collection components and the mobile communication device. A user
interface of the mobile communication device may communicate the
information to a user of the electromagnetic signal detector.

Claims:

1. A server for a mobile communication device operable to communicate
with an electromagnetic signal detector, comprising: a communication
element that facilitates communication via a second communication
standard between said sever and said mobile communication device which is
operable to communicate with said electromagnetic signal detector via a
first communication standard, wherein said communication element receives
data from at least one of said mobile communication device and said
electromagnetic signal detector, wherein said data comprises voice
transmissions, wherein said communication element facilitates
transmission of said data via a second communication standard to a second
mobile communication device based on a geographic location associated
with said second mobile communication device, wherein a user interface of
said second mobile communication device communicates said data to a user
of said second mobile communication device, and wherein said first
communication standard differs from said second communication standard;
and an analysis algorithm that analyzes said data, wherein analyzing said
data generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic
location associated with at least one of said mobile communication device
and said second mobile communication device, wherein said prediction is
communicated to at least one of said mobile communication device, said
second mobile communication device, and said electromagnetic signal
detector.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein said prediction is communicated to said
user based at least partially on a user input from at least one of said
user interface of said second mobile communication device and a user
interface of said first mobile communication device.

4. The server of claim 3, wherein said prediction is based at least in
part on said evaluated said voice transmissions.

5. The server of claim 1, further comprising a management element,
wherein said management element facilitates configuration of at least one
setting associated with at least one of said mobile communication device,
said second mobile communication device, and said electromagnetic signal
detector.

6. A mobile communication device that interfaces with a server,
comprising: a communication component that communicates with a server via
a communication standard, wherein said server aggregates data received
from a plurality of communication devices and facilitates communication
of at least a portion of said aggregated data to said mobile
communication device, wherein said data is associated with a geographic
location; a data filter that restricts said data received by said mobile
communication device based upon at least one parameter; and a user
interface that communicates filtered data to a user of said mobile
communication device.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said parameter
includes at least one of a geographic location, a route, a communication
area, a map display limitation, a content category, a user group, a
direction, a heading, a speed, and an alert level.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said parameter is
based at least in part on a user input.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein said user input is
associated with at least one of said user of said mobile communication
device and a user that created said data.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said mobile
communication device further receives a prediction of an alert level from
said server based on a geographic location associated with said mobile
communication device via said communication standard, wherein said
prediction is based on an analysis of said aggregated data, and wherein
said user interface communicates said prediction to said user.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said mobile
communication device generates a prediction of an alert level based on a
geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via
said communication standard, wherein said prediction is based on an
analysis of said aggregated data, and wherein said user interface
communicates said prediction to said user.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said aggregated
data comprises information related to at least one of a geographic
location, a speed, an acceleration, a direction, a heading, and a
navigation route associated with a motor vehicle that is associated with
said mobile communication device.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein said aggregated
data comprises information related to at least one of an electromagnetic
signal detection, a road segment restriction, a voice transmission, and a
predicted alert level.

14. A system for recorded communication among a plurality of mobile
communication devices, the system comprising: said plurality of mobile
communication devices that: a) communicate a data recording based on a
geographic location associated with said mobile communication device and
a parameter via a communication standard, b) display a map and an
indication representing at least one said data recording, and c)
communicate said data recording to a user of said mobile communication
device; and a server that: d) receives said data recording from at least
one mobile communication device via a communication standard, wherein
said data recording is associated with said geographic location and said
parameter; e) analyzes said geographic location and said parameter, and
f) facilitates transmission of said data recording to said mobile
communication device via said communication standard based on said
analysis.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said parameter is at least one of a
threshold quantity of data, a threshold data storage size, and a time
schedule.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said parameter is at least one of an
alert level, a content category, a recording format, a user control, and
a user group restriction.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said data recording is an audible
voice recording.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising an analysis algorithm to
determine a timeframe for communicating said voice recording based upon
at least one of a content category, activity associated with said voice
recording, and an evaluation of other data recordings within a proximity
to said voice recording.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said data recording communicated to
said user based on at least one of a proximity between said mobile
communication device and said geographic location associated with said
data recording, a user input via a user interface of said mobile
communication device, and an alert level associated with said data
recording.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a management element,
wherein said management element facilitates configuration of at least one
setting associated with at least one of said mobile communication device
and said server.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said system further comprises a
second server wherein said second server comprises said management
element.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein facilitating transmission of said
data recording comprises: facilitating transmission of said indication to
said mobile communication device, receiving a user request associated
with said indication, and facilitating transmission of said data
recording to said mobile communication device based on said user request.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said user request is based upon at
least one of a setting associated with said mobile communication device,
a user input associated with said indication, and an analysis associated
with said mobile communication device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said analysis associated with said
mobile communication device is based upon at least one of a geographic
location, a speed, an acceleration, a direction, a heading, and a
navigation route associated with said mobile communication device

25. The system of claim 14, wherein said server facilitates transmission
of said geographic location associated with said data recording.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein said server facilitates transmission
of said indication in conjunction with said geographic location
associated with said data recording.

27. A system for broadcast communication among a plurality of mobile
communication devices, the system comprising: said plurality of mobile
communication devices that: a) communicate a data broadcast based on a
geographic location associated with said mobile communication device via
a communication standard, and b) communicate said data broadcast to a
user of said mobile communication device; and a server that: d) receives
said data broadcast from at least one mobile communication device via a
communication standard, wherein said data broadcast is associated with
said geographic location, e) analyzes said geographic location and
geographic locations associated with each of said plurality of mobile
communication devices, and f) facilitates transmission of said data
broadcast to at least one of said plurality of mobile communication
devices via said communication standard based on said analysis.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said analysis is further based on at
least one parameter.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said parameter is at least one of an
alert level, a content category, a broadcast format, a user control, a
communication area, and a user group restriction.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising an identification
component to identify users of said plurality of mobile communication
devices to which said server facilitates transmission of said data
broadcast.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said data broadcast is communicated
to said user based on at least one of a proximity between said mobile
communication device and said geographic location associated with said
data broadcast, a user input via a user interface of said mobile
communication device, and an alert level associated with said data
broadcast.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said data broadcast is an audible
voice transmission.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein said server generates a prediction of
an alert level based at least in part on a voice recognition analysis of
said data broadcast and associates said prediction with a geographic
location associated with said data broadcast.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said server facilitates transmission
of said prediction to at least one mobile communication device.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising a management element,
wherein said management element facilitates configuration of at least one
setting associated with at least one of said mobile communication device
and said server.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said system further comprises a
second server wherein said second server comprises said management
element.

37. A computer program product for facilitating communication for a
mobile communication device, the computer program product comprising: a
tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable
program code that, when executed by a processor, causes said computer
executable program code to perform a method comprising: a) transmitting
data by said mobile communication device to a server via a communication
network, wherein said data comprises a voice transmission; b) receiving
said data via said communication network based upon an analysis of a
geographic location and at least one other parameter; and c)
communicating said data to at least one of a user of said mobile
communication device and a user of an other device based at least
partially on a user input from a user interface of said mobile
communication device.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The current application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/518,167, entitled "Radar Detector That Interfaces
With A Mobile Communication Device" and filed on Aug. 9, 2012, which
claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/289,278, entitled "Radar Detector That Interfaces With A Mobile
Communication Device" and filed on Dec. 22, 2009. The current application
is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/514,232,
entitled "Analyzing Data From Networked Radar Detectors" and filed on
Aug. 9, 2012, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/267,172, entitled "Analyzing Data From Networked Radar
Detectors" and filed on Dec. 7, 2009. The preceding applications are
incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of sensing and
communication equipment meant to alert motor vehicle operators and
passengers to potential threats and safety risks. This invention also
relates to the field of radar detector interfaces, in which sensing
equipment enables an interface to alert motor vehicle operators to
detailed threats for specific geographic locations. This invention also
relates to the field of threat level topography, in which sensing
equipment alerts motor vehicle operators to levels of threats that are
predicted for specific geographic locations. This invention also relates
to communicating data transmissions associated with geographic locations
among vehicle users.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional radar detectors detect electromagnetic signals (such
as microwave signals) or laser signals transmitted from radar or
laser-type speed measurement equipment, such as police radar signals.
Thus, radar detectors serve to provide advance warning to drivers who are
being monitored by police radar. However, radar detectors and their
scanning algorithms are an imperfect technology. Electromagnetic waves
are naturally vulnerable to reflection, bouncing, and scattering. These
characteristics create variability and "noise" that a radar detector must
detect and analyze before determining whether or not to alert a motor
vehicle operator to a potential threat. In addition, radar detectors do
not actively predict areas for alert and, instead, they react to signals
they receive from the environment which limits the amount of advanced
warning that can be provided. In addition, radar detectors typically have
interfaces that limit the amount of information provided to a motor
vehicle operator and/or limit the ease with which a user may customize
the use of the radar detector. However, increasing the size of a radar
detector's display interface may be cost prohibitive.

[0004] There are a number of tools and/or types of sensing equipment used
by drivers to provide an alert to these sorts of traffic control devices,
with radar/laser detectors the most common. As used herein, the terms
radar detector and electromagnetic signal detector will be used
interchangeably to refer to any of a number of known signal detection
units capable of detecting electromagnetic signals in the X-band, K-band
or Ka-band. Furthermore, the terms radar detector and electromagnetic
signal detector will also be used interchangeably to refer to radar
and/or laser detectors, and could refer to any electromagnetic wave
detector or light wave detector. Examples of known technology in this
area include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,784,021 and 5,151,701.

[0005] Existing radar detectors' inability to provide alerts in advance of
receiving the electromagnetic signal limits each driver's capability to
safely adjust his or her driving while approaching a threat or other
safety hazard. Radar detectors are also encumbered by sources of false
positives, including motion-sensing doors on commercial buildings,
motion-detecting burglar alarms, other radar detectors, and light signals
emitted from sources other than laser guns. More recently, makers of
luxury automobiles have begun offering "collision detection" systems that
use microwave motion sensors mounted around the vehicle. A radar detector
following one of these vehicles may provide a false alert based on a
collision detection system, which may diminish the motor vehicle
operator's experience. These factors, taken together, make radar
detection problematic.

[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,118,403, 6,384,776, 6,670,905, 6,895,324, and
7,471,236 describe radar detectors and radar detector systems. However,
none of the systems overcome the various problems associated with
existing radar detectors. In addition, none of the systems provide alerts
or predictions based upon a statistical analysis of centralized
aggregated data. Existing radar detectors and radar detector systems do
not overcome problems with minimizing false alerts while providing
advance statistical predictions of potential threats.

SUMMARY

[0007] A radar detector is fundamentally a device that turns data into
actionable information. Data problems like these may be solved with
database architectures and analysis algorithms. These analysis algorithms
can sift through the noise and variance inherent in the sampling
methodology to provide more precise actionable information. Some problems
with radar detectors may be minimized by applying database analytical
strategies. Generally, networked radar detectors may communicate the
radar detectors' data for a geographic location to a server that executes
analysis algorithms to analyze the aggregated data and make predictions
about law enforcement speed monitoring activities and potential safety
risks at the geographic location. The server provides alert management
that dynamically adjusts alerts based on statistical probabilities and
communicates the predictions to the networked radar detectors near the
geographic location. The networked radar detectors at the geographical
location communicate threat levels and/or predictions of alert levels to
motor vehicle operators and/or passengers as alerts. These alerts will
help motor vehicle operators minimize the risks associated with law
enforcement speed monitoring activity and reduce the probability that a
radar detector user will fall into a police speed trap. This present
invention may also lead to larger zones of safe driving in compliance
with local laws; a goal sought by all traffic regulating authorities.

[0008] An external mobile communication device, such as a cellular
telephone or smart phone, may be used as a radar detector interface to
address some radar detector problems and/or limitations. Radar detector
data is communicated to a mobile communication device that includes a
display screen capable of displaying significant quantities of
information about law enforcement speed monitoring activities and
potential safety risks at a geographic location in an easy-to-understand
format. This detailed information will help motor vehicle operators
minimize the risks associated with law enforcement speed monitoring
activity and reduce the probability that a radar detector user will fall
into a police speed trap. The mobile communication device's display
screen, which is comparatively large when compared to current radar
detector displays, will enable the user to more easily customize the
operation of the radar detector to the user's specific needs and may also
lead to larger zones of safe driving in compliance with local laws; a
goal sought by all traffic regulating authorities. Furthermore, because
many mobile communication devices use similar colors, color gradients,
fonts, and layouts, many users of such devices are already familiar and
comfortable with the display of information in these formats.

[0009] Mobile communication systems can facilitate the increased
aggregation of data from numerous sources to improve and/or customize
traffic alerts and monitoring. Devices and systems can be designed to
improve the vehicular communication experience while also improving the
driving safety of users. For example, improved user interfaces and
information allow for the provision of more reliable and accurate alerts
and capabilities to modify driving patterns to account for potential
cautions and alerts in advance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a system of
the present disclosure.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a mobile communication device interface depicting data of
the present disclosure as a map illustration.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a process of the
present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting another embodiment of a system
of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting another embodiment of a process of
the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting another embodiment a system of
the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting another embodiment of a process of
the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of a map illustration depicting
communication areas of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a map illustration depicting
communication areas of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 10 is another embodiment of a map illustration depicting
communication areas of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 11 is an embodiment of a map illustration depicting icons of
the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 12 is an embodiment of a smart phone depicting a user
interface of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 13 is an embodiment of a smart phone depicting a map
illustration of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 14 is another embodiment of a smart phone depicting a map
illustration of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 15 is another embodiment of a smart phone depicting a user
interface of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 16 is another embodiment of a smart phone depicting a user
interface of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 17 is an embodiment of a user system operable with the systems
of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 18 is an embodiment of a device operable with the systems of
the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 19 is another embodiment of a device operable with the systems
of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 20 is an embodiment of a radar detector operable with the
systems of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there
will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention
with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as
an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended
to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments
illustrated. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central
characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the
invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. One skilled
in the art will recognize that the predicted alert levels, alert
probabilities, predictions, and threat levels are synonymous and based
upon an analysis of data by analysis algorithm 424 whether located in the
electromagnetic signal detector, server or elsewhere, and alert level,
detection alert level and initial alert level are based upon an
electromagnetic signal detectors normal operation and detection of a
signal, prior to an analysis by the analysis algorithm 424.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts the system 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The depicted system
100 includes a first radar detector 102 and a second radar detector 104.
The first radar detector 102 is used by a first motor vehicle 106 and the
second radar detector 104 is used by a second motor vehicle 108.
Electromagnetic signal devices depicted in FIG. 1 include a mobile police
radar unit 110, such as a police motorcycle equipped with a radar gun,
and a fixed police radar unit 112, such as a speed camera, that are
situated towards the road on which the motor vehicles 106-108 are
traveling. The radar detectors 102-104 may detect electromagnetic signals
emitted from the radar units 110-112.

[0032] The system 100 may also include a first mobile communication device
114, a second mobile communication device 116, a server 118, a database
120, and an analysis algorithm 122. The mobile communication devices
114-116 may be a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a
satellite phone, a navigation system, a personal digital assistant, a
portable computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and/or any other
device with a user interface and the capability to wirelessly
communicate. The mobile communication devices 114-116 enable the radar
detectors 102-104 to communicate with the users of the mobile
communication devices 114-116 via the corresponding user interfaces of
the mobile communication devices 114-116. Many radar detector users
already own and regularly use mobile communication devices 114-116, such
as mobile phones, and therefore may not need to purchase any such mobile
communication devices 114-116 to interface with the radar detectors
102-104. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the system 100 may
include any number of radar detectors 102-104, motor vehicles 106-108,
electromagnetic emitting devices 110-112, mobile communication devices
114-116, servers 118, databases 120, and analysis algorithm 122 and
should not be limited to the illustrative example provided in FIG. 1.

[0033] The first radar detector 102 communicates with the first mobile
communication device 114 via a first communication standard, such as the
Bluetooth communication standard, the ZigBee communication standard, the
WiFi communication standard, or any other communication standard. One
skilled in the art will recognize that the first communication standard
may include hard-wired and wireless communication and remain within the
scope and spirit of the invention. Although specific communication
standards may be identified for illustrative examples herein, one skilled
in the art will recognize that other communication standards may be
employed and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Similarly, the second radar detector 102 communicates with the second
mobile communication device 116 via the first communication standard,
such as the Bluetooth communication standard. In contrast to providing
each of the radar detectors 102-104 with the capability to communicate
via a wide area communication network, which may be complicated and cost
prohibitive, providing each of the radar detectors 102-104 with the
capability to communicate via the Bluetooth communication standard or
other near-field communication standard may be easy and relatively
inexpensive. Furthermore, many mobile communication devices 114-116 are
either already provided with Bluetooth or other communication
capabilities, or may be easily and relatively inexpensively upgraded to
provide Bluetooth or other communication capabilities.

[0034] In some embodiments, the communication capabilities of radar
detectors 102-104 and mobile communication devices 114-116 may be
utilized to automatically execute the system and/or method in each of
radar detectors 102-104 and mobile communication devices 114-116 when
they are within a certain range, such as the communication range of the
first communication standard. For example, radar detector 102 and mobile
communication device 114 may contain paired radio frequency
identification ("RFID") components. When the range between radar detector
102 and mobile communication device 114 is within the RFID signal range,
the RFID components cause an application within mobile communication
device 114 to automatically execute the system and/or method. For
example, once the radar detector 102 and mobile communication device 114
are within range of one another, the devices could "pair" via the
Bluetooth standard. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the
communication capabilities may be used to automatically execute all or
portions of the system and/or method in radar detectors 102-104 and/or
mobile communication devices 114-116 and remain within the scope and
spirit of the invention. In addition, one skilled in the art will
recognize that the communication capabilities may be used to permit,
preclude or and/modify other operations of radar detectors 102-104 and/or
mobile communication devices 114-116 and remain within the scope and
spirit of the invention.

[0035] Each of the mobile communication devices 114-116 has its own user
interface with which a user may already be familiar with using. In
contrast, a user who recently purchased a typical radar detector may not
become completely familiar with the new and potentially unfamiliar radar
detector interface. This mobile communication device interface, which is
distinct and separate from the user interface of any radar detector, may
be much larger than the user interface of typical radar detectors. The
mobile communication device user interface may be capable of displaying
significantly more information than typical radar detectors can display,
such as a navigation map that depicts various road segments and their
corresponding predicted alert levels, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and
discussed below. The mobile communication device user interface may also
display a history of specific types of detected electromagnetic signals,
such as the specific types of electromagnetic signals detected along a
driven route.

[0036] The user interface of the mobile communication devices 114-116 may
improve the aesthetic layout and informative presentation of data in a
safe to utilize manner. The user interface may also display alerts based
on various levels, such as a probability that a detected signal is a law
enforcement speed monitoring signal, or levels of alerts based on colors,
such as the range that includes yellow, yellow-orange, orange,
orange-red, and red, or any other color scheme. In contrast to typical
radar detectors that may be restricted to using a limited number of
colors to depict various levels of alerts, the mobile communication
device interface may be capable of displaying a virtually unlimited
number of colors in the color spectrum. The user may select any color to
be displayed by the user interface for each type of alert and/or to
correspond with alert levels. Furthermore, the user interface may also
display virtually any amounts of additional information, such as a
compass heading and a calculation of the speed of the user's vehicle.

[0037] The user interface of the first mobile communication device 114
also enables the user of the first mobile communication device 114 to
more easily enter user input to customize the operation of the first
radar detector 102 without the need to utilize a user interface
physically attached to or part of first radar detector 102. For example,
the user may use the user interface of the first mobile communication
device 114 to manage radar events on an interactive map, such as removing
alerts that the user knows are false alerts and acknowledging alerts that
the user knows are valid alerts via a mobile phone touch screen.
Furthermore, the present invention may include one or more additional
safety features, such as the ability to prevent or limit the ability to
manage the system while the vehicle is in motion.

[0038] The user may also easily select from many options displayed by the
mobile communication device user interface, such as whether to share
radar events detected by the user's radar detector with servers and/or
databases, which may convey these radar events to other mobile
communication devices. Selecting to share radar events with other mobile
communication devices may enable each of the mobile communication devices
114-116 to communicate their detected radar events via the second
communication standard to the server 118, which may be a centralized
server that aggregates these radar events and provides threat or
predicted alert levels to the mobile communication devices 114-116 in a
communication network. The aggregation of radar events may provide each
of the mobile communication devices 114-116 with information about
detected or predicted radar events at specific locations long before the
corresponding radar detectors 102-104 are even capable of detecting these
radar events. One skilled in the art will recognize that the radar
detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116 may
have a location determining unit, such as a Global Positioning System
(GPS) receiver, to identify the current location of the radar detectors
102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116.

[0039] The options displayed by the mobile communication device user
interface may also include an option to adjust the sensitivity of the
user's radar detector based on specific city and highway environments.
For example, a user may select specific road segments depicted in the map
of FIG. 2 for lower sensitivity settings based on the user's experience
in encountering false alerts while driving daily on those specific road
segments. The user may also select to stream radar detector's audible
alerts to external speakers, a piezoelectric device, and/or any other
audio transducer. The options displayed by the larger user interface may
also include an option to revise levels of alerts and outputs indicating
alert levels, such as selecting green for a minor alert and/or muting
audible alerts for minor alerts. Furthermore, the options displayed by
the mobile communication device user interface may also include an option
to either raise or lower the threat probabilities associated with each
level of alerts, such as raising the threat probability level for an
alert to qualify as a minor alert and lowering the threat probability
level for an alert to qualify as a major alert, wherein the difference
between a minor and major alert could be the number or color of visual
displays lit and/or the loudness, pattern or tone of an audible alert.
Additionally, the options displayed by the mobile communication device
user interface may also include an option to select from various modes of
operation, such as a proximity mode, a city mode, or a rural mode, and
the mobile communication device user interface may be used to instruct
the radar detectors 102-104 to enable or disable such mode selections.
Furthermore, the modes may be selected by any combination of the first
radar detector 102, the first mobile communication device 114, the server
118, or the user of the first mobile communication device 114.
Additionally, the selection of the modes may be sent from the first radar
detector 102, the first mobile communication device 114, and/or the
server 118 to the first radar detector 102, the first mobile
communication device 114, and/or the server 118. The first radar detector
102, the first mobile communication device 114, and/or the server 118 may
include a map database used for determining when to enter a specific
mode. For example, the first mobile communication device 114 switches
from rural mode to city mode based on the current geographic location of
the first mobile communication device 114 and a map database stored in
the memory of the first mobile communication device 114. In another
example, the user of the first mobile communication device 114 may enter
a selection of city mode via the mobile communication device user
interface even though the map database stored in the memory of the first
mobile communication device 114 indicates that rural mode is still
optimal for the current geographic location. One skilled in the art will
recognize that the modes of operation and methods and/or options for
selecting a mode of operation may vary and remain within the scope and
spirit of the invention. One skilled in the art will also recognize that
a map database may comprise data representing the roadways, geographic
areas including specific geographical areas (such as country, state
and/or municipality boundaries) and/or generic geographic areas (such as
patterned geometric shapes), geographic points, and/or any other
geographic information. One skilled in the art will also recognize that
the size, shape, scope, calculation, and/or any defining parameters of
geographic information in a map database may vary and remain within the
scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0040] Because the first mobile communication device 114 may have a
display screen that is comparatively larger than the screen found on
current radar detectors, mobile communication device may enable the user
to interface with the first radar detector 102, while the first radar
detector 102 may have no display and a minimal number of small indicators
and/or buttons, or no such indicators and/or buttons at all. If present,
these small indicators may indicate whether the first radar detector 102
has sufficient electrical power to operate and whether the first radar
detector 102 is paired with the first mobile communication device 104 by
Bluetooth or another communication standard. The first radar detector 102
may also have small buttons for controlling the volume and/or muting the
audible signals of the first radar detector 102.

[0041] Leveraging the network communication capabilities of any such
mobile communication devices 114-116 is a cost-effective alternative to
the expenses required to add such network communication capabilities to
the radar detectors 102-104. The mobile communication devices 114-116
enable the radar detectors 102-104 to communicate data to and from the
server 118 via a second communication standard that differs from the
first communication standard. This second communication standard may have
wide-area network capabilities, more range, or utilize a different
communication protocol than the first communication standard. By
utilizing the advantages of the second communication protocol through
mobile communication devices 114-116, radar detectors 102-104 are able to
gain these communication benefits. The mobile communication devices
114-116 enable the radar detectors 102-104 to communicate via the second
communication standard over a communication network, such as a cellular
telephone network, a satellite network, a Wi-Fi, another wireless
network, and/or the Internet. As one skilled in the art will recognize,
the system 100 may operate on one or more public networks, private
networks or combinations of public and private networks. By leveraging
the pre-existing communication capabilities of the mobile communication
devices 114-116, the radar detectors 102-104 may inexpensively, quickly,
and easily communicate data to the server 118.

[0042] Each of the radar detectors 102-104, the mobile communication
devices 114-116, and the server 118 has the ability to initiate the
process of sending or receiving data. The data may relate to location,
speed, and/or acceleration of the motor vehicles 106-108, law enforcement
activity, detectable electromagnetic signals, traffic conditions, any
other hazards or alerts, and/or the status of the radar detector
including operating mode, detection bands enabled and the like. Any or
all such data may be identified and flagged at the discretion of the
server 118 and/or the users of the radar detectors 102-104. As one
skilled in the art will recognize, law enforcement activity includes
speed traps, speed cameras, red light cameras, and any law enforcement
personnel and/or device enforcing traffic laws. The data may also include
driving patterns of vehicles 106-108 and/or specific driving patterns of
individuals including patterns relating to the driver's typical reaction
to specific alerts under specific circumstances. For example, the system
may detect that the vehicle in which it is operating suddenly decelerated
in response to a specific electromagnetic signal. This action by the
vehicle could signify that the operator perceived an actual hazard or law
enforcement activity, indicating that the signal is a legitimate source.
This allows server 118 to utilize the database 120 to customize the
predicted alert and/or threat levels it downloads to each user in order
to adjust the alert levels to correlate to the advanced warning desired
by the driver.

[0043] For example, the first radar detector 102 detects the mobile police
radar unit 110 and the fixed police radar unit 112 and communicates data
representing these detections to the first mobile communication device
114 via Bluetooth, and the first mobile communication device 114
communicates this data along with time and location data associated with
the detections to the server 118 via a communication network. In another
example, the second radar detector 104 also detects the fixed police
radar unit 112 and communicates data representing this detection,
including time and location data, to the second mobile communication
device 116 via Bluetooth, and the second mobile communication device 116
communicates this data to the server 118 via a telephone communication
network.

[0044] As one skilled in the art will recognize, radar detectors 102-104
and server 118 may leverage the various communication standards of the
mobile communication devices 114-116 to communicate data in real-time or
may communicate data based upon a schedule, a triggering event (such as
reaching a data quantity threshold or a data storage size threshold),
and/or a combination of a schedule and triggering event and remain within
the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the first radar
detector 102 detects the mobile police radar unit 110 and the fixed
police radar unit 112 and stores data representing these detections in
internal memory, such as a buffer. Once a threshold quantity of data is
reached or surpassed in the buffer, the first radar detector 102
communicates data representing these detections to the first mobile
communication device 114 via Bluetooth, and the first mobile
communication device 114 communicates this data to the server 118 via a
telephone communication network. For another example, the second radar
detector 104 may not receive any detection while traveling other roadways
and stores data representing the absence of detections along the traveled
path. At scheduled times the second radar detector 104 may communicate
data representing the absence of detections to the second mobile
communication device 116 via Bluetooth, and the second mobile
communication device 116 communicates this data to the server 118 via a
telephone communication network. In yet another example either mobile
communication device 114-116 may buffer stored data, and wait until a
threshold quantity of data is reached or surpassed in a buffer before
communicating this data to the server 118 via a telephone communication
network.

[0045] Upon receipt of such data, the server 118 stores the data into
physical or electronic memory in the database 120, which may be part of
the server 118 or separate from the server 118. The server administrators
may also add other data to the database 120 (pertaining to law
enforcement, safety, or driving in general) that are not measurable in
the electromagnetic and laser spectrums of the radar detectors 102-104.
Examples of this type of data include traffic flow conditions, dangerous
intersections, and speed limits for various road segments. This
additional data may be updated periodically by the server 118,
automatically or through manual data entry. Some data changes frequently,
like weather conditions and traffic conditions in local areas. Other data
changes infrequently, such as "line segment" approximations of road maps
and physical locations of school zones and/or law enforcement monitoring
installations. These installations include but are not limited to red
light and speed cameras. The data may include the data from the radar
detectors 102-104, other data added by administrators as indicated above,
and data from other data suppliers.

[0046] The server 118 executes the analysis algorithm 122 that
periodically collects, sorts, organizes, and analyzes the data. The
result of this analysis is stored in new records in database 120. In a
preferred embodiment, the data is associated with database 120, but as
one skilled in the art will recognize, the analysis algorithm 122 may
incorporate or otherwise analyze data from sources other than the
database 120 and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. The
analysis algorithm 122 may include statistical or predictive calculations
relating to the likelihood of future threats, hazards, alerts, law
enforcement speed monitoring activity, or traffic conditions. In the
context of the present invention, the terms threat, predicted alert and
predictive alert may be used interchangeably to refer to the likelihood
that a user of the present invention will encounter a police radar unit,
a road hazard or other event that will trigger an alert displayed on
radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116.

[0047] Relative to the storage capacity and processing capacity of the
radar devices 102-104, the storage capacity and the processing capacity
of the mobile communication devices 114-116 may provide the capability to
execute a complex analysis algorithm 122 using significant quantities of
aggregated data, including data that is not readily available to the
radar detectors 102-104. In addition, relative to the storage capacity
and processing capacity of the radar devices 102-104 and the mobile
communication devices 114-116, the storage capacity and the processing
capacity of the database 120 and the server 118 may provide the
capability to execute a complex analysis algorithm 122 using significant
quantities of aggregated data, including data that is not readily
available to either the radar detectors 102-104 and the mobile
communication devices 114-116. However, it will be realized by those
skilled in the art that as processing power increases, it may also be
possible to run algorithm 122 on either radar detectors 102-104 and/or
mobile communication devices 114-116 and still remain within the scope
and spirit of the invention.

[0048] The output of the analysis algorithm 122 may include a calculated
predictive alert level value or series of values that attempts to
approximate and quantify the statistical likelihood of there being law
enforcement activity and/or other safety risks in the geographic
locations ahead of any of the motor vehicles 106-108. In some
embodiments, the analysis algorithm 122 may tailor predicted alert values
to an individual radar detector and/or driver based in part upon any
considerations entered by the user and/or the user's stored driving
patterns. This prediction may be based on a single factor or a
combination of factors. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the
prediction may be based on any data available to analysis algorithm 122,
including but not limited to patterns of emission detections, geographic
locations, signal analysis, user input, and any other data. One skilled
in the art will recognize that signal analysis may include signal band
analysis, signal frequency analysis, signal strength or intensity
measurements, and/or any other signal analysis. For example, the received
signal band may be compared to known signal regulations imposed by the
FCC or other regulatory or licensing body. For instance, if the signal is
in the X or K bands it may be a motion-sensing door, however, if the
signal is in the Ka band it is less likely to be a motion-sensing door.
For another example, the received signal band may be compared to
previously identified signal bands stored in database 120. For instance,
database 120 may have stored information associated with one geographic
location regarding an X band signal that has a high probability of
representing law enforcement activity and a Ka band signal that has a low
probability of representing law enforcement activity. If a received
signal is in the Ka band, the previously identified Ka band signals in
the geographic location may factor in analysis algorithm 122 calculating
a low probability of the received Ka band signal representing law
enforcement activity.

[0049] In an embodiment, an alert may be based upon an analysis of speed
limits for road segments in the geographic location associated with radar
detectors 102-104. For example, database 120 may contain posted speed
limits for the road segment that radar detector 102 is traveling along
and recognize that radar detector 102 is approaching a lowered speed
limit, server 118 may then communicate the approaching speed limit to
mobile communication device 114, which can then provide an alert to the
user of mobile communication device 114 of the approaching change in the
speed limit. One skilled in the art will recognize that a road segment or
road segments may refer to physical roadways and/or the data
representations of physical roadways created and/or stored in server 118,
radar detectors 102-104, mobile communication devices 114-116, and/or
another computer hardware device. Mobile communication device 114 may
also consider user inputs regarding when to provide a speed limit alert.
For example, the user of mobile communication device 114 may input a
condition that an alert not be provided unless the current vehicle speed
is above the approaching speed limit or may input a condition that an
alert not be provided unless there is also a prediction of law
enforcement activity in the area. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, database 120 may contain any number and type of various
traffic regulations associated with geographic locations or specific road
segments which may be communicated to a user via the alert outputs
available to the user and remain within the scope and spirit of the
invention. One skilled in the art will also recognize that default,
system determined, and user conditions for alerts may vary and remain
within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0050] A third radar detector and a third mobile communication device (not
depicted in FIG. 1) may derive the benefits from the system 100 based on
detections made by the first radar detector 102 and the second radar
detector 104 even when the third radar detector and the third mobile
communication device approach the fixed police radar unit 112 for the
very first time. The third mobile communication device may receive a
predicted alert or threat level from server 118 and thereafter provide an
alert for the fixed police radar unit 112 without the third radar
detector having previously observed and recorded any band emissions from
that geographic location. The predicted alert or threat level received by
the third mobile communication device and communicated to the third radar
detector may be based upon periodically received data from the server 118
pertaining to predicted probabilities and/or alert levels for potential
threats in the local area. Therefore, the system 100 may provide benefits
to mobile communication device users who have never traveled on a
specific road segment before based on data from the multiple radar
detectors 102-104 that have previously traveled on the specific road
segment. In yet another example, an operator of a fourth mobile
communication device (not depicted) may derive the benefits from system
100 based on detections made by radar detectors 102-104, even if that
operator does not operate a radar detector of their own. Specifically,
the fourth mobile communication device may receive periodic data from
server 118, and display alerts in a manner similar to that described for
the third mobile communication device. In this manner, fourth mobile
communication device would be limited only in that it would not receive
new detections of electromagnetic signals (because it is not
communicating with an electromagnetic signal detector such as a radar
detector) and would, therefore, be unable to generate or display alerts
based on that data. Instead, fourth mobile communication device would
rely only on historical data collected by other radar detectors and would
display only predictive alerts based on this historical data and the
analysis performed on this data by algorithm 122.

[0051] When signals are detected by one of radar detectors 102-104, an
alert level may be based upon the predicted probability that the detected
signals represent a law enforcement monitoring device or other safety
risk. When signals are not detected, an alert level may be based upon the
threat or predicted probability that a law enforcement monitoring device
or other safety risk is within a vicinity determined by the radar
detectors 102-104, the mobile communication devices 114-116, the server
118, and/or defined by a user. The resulting alert level may be defined
in any number of levels whereby each alert level is correlated to a range
of threat probabilities. In one embodiment, if there are two alert
levels, a 0-50% threat probability may result in no alert or an ignore
level and a 51-100% threat probability may represent an alert. In another
embodiment, four alert levels may be defined by threat probability ranges
0-40% (no alert or an ignore level), 41-65% (minor alert), 66-85%
(mid-level alert), and 86-100% (high alert). In yet another embodiment,
five alert levels may be defined based upon ranges along a threat
probability scale from -50 to 50, whereby threat probability ranges of
-50 through -30 represent a no alert or an ignore level, threat
probability ranges of -29 through -1 represent a minor alert, threat
probability ranges of 1 through 30 represent a mid-level alert, threat
probability ranges of 31 through 50 represent a high alert, and a threat
probability of zero indicates that no stored data is available to
analyze.

[0052] The analysis algorithm 122 may calculate a multitude of threat
probabilities and/or associated alert levels based on specific subsets of
the data, i.e. for specific times of the day, days of the week, or months
of the year. The predicted alert and/or threat levels may also be based
on data associated with specific geographic location boundaries. This
process may create predicted alert and/or threat levels specific to grid
regions bounded by latitude and longitude, specific to a rectangular,
radial, or other shaped region, or specific to "road segments" where
detailed map data is available. In addition, the analysis algorithm 122
may associate a weighted factor to various data to represent the strength
and/or reliability of the data. For example, a diminishing weight factor
may be associated with data based on the age of the data such that older
data has a lower weight factor. Alternatively, data could be given weight
based on actual driver reactions to the data. For example, if the system
detects that an operator has slowed the vehicle immediately following
detection of a particular electromagnetic signal, this may indicate that
the signal corresponds to an actual hazard or law enforcement activity,
suggesting that data relating to that particular signal may be given a
greater weight. One skilled in the art will recognize that many variables
may be considered to determine a weight factor for any data, different
weight factors may be applied for different calculations, weight factors
may change over time for all data or specific data, and multiple weight
factors may be associated with any data to effect the overall weight of
the evidence during analysis and remain within the scope and spirit of
the invention.

[0053] In one example, the server 118 may provide the 95% threat
probability predicted by analysis algorithm 122 for the fixed police
radar unit 112 to the second mobile communication device 116 associated
with the geographic location for the road segment currently traveled by
the motor vehicle 108. The mobile communication device user may wish to
respond differently to predicted threat probabilities, such as 95%, 50%,
and 5%. For example, the user of the second radar detector 104 may
program the second mobile communication device 116 to provide a minor
alert level if there is a 50% threat or predicted alert probability,
while the user of the first radar detector 102 may program the first
mobile communication device 114 to provide a no alert or an ignore level
if there is a 50% threat or predicted alert probability.

[0054] In addition, the mobile communication devices 114-116 may provide
an alert based upon a high threat or predicted alert probability in the
anticipated travel segment, wherein a travel segment may be a road
segment on which the user is currently traveling, and may incorporate
different actual distances depending on the speed of the vehicle, the
mode in which the system is operating and/or any other relevant
variables. For example, the second mobile communication device 116 may
provide an alert prior to the second radar detector 104 receiving a radar
signal from fixed police radar unit 112 when the second motor vehicle 108
is traveling towards the fixed police radar unit 112 with a determined
95% predicted threat probability. In addition, the second radar detector
104 may increase the given alert once a signal is received from the fixed
police radar unit 112.

[0055] The alert levels and/or threat probability that the analysis
algorithm 122 may predict and that the server 118 may communicate to the
mobile communication devices 114-116 are supplementary to the normal
operation of the radar detectors 102-104. For example, the mobile police
radar unit 110 may arrive on a police motorcycle at a geographic location
where electromagnetic signals have never been detected by the radar
detectors 102-104 previously. However, the first radar detector 102 may
still detect the mobile police radar unit 110 and provide an alert to the
operator of the first motor vehicle 106 even before the first mobile
communication device 114 communicates data representing this detection to
the server 118. For example, the first radar detector 102 may determine
that the detected signal is not stored in the internal memory of the
first radar detector 102 and communicate an alert to the user based upon
the internal analysis and settings of the first radar detector 102 for
new or unrecognized signals. In one embodiment, a default setting of the
first radar detector 102 would treat new or unrecognized signals as a
threat and provide a default alert unless an internal analysis indicated
that the signal is likely a false positive.

[0056] In addition, before the first radar detector 102 provides an
initial alert to the user, it may further analyze the signal. The first
radar detector 102 may recognize that a record relating to or describing
that signal is not in its own database and therefore communicate an alert
based upon the probability that a new electromagnetic signal is a police
monitoring unit or other safety risk, or the first radar detector 102 may
provide a default alert until additional data is received and analyzed.

[0057] In addition, while the first radar detector 102 is providing an
initial alert to the user, it also may communicate the signal to the
first mobile communication device 114. The first mobile communication
device 114 may recognize that the signal is not in its own database and
communicate an alert based upon the probability a new electromagnetic
signal is a police monitoring unit or other safety risk, or the first
mobile communication device 114 may provide a default alert until
additional data is received and analyzed. The first mobile communication
device 114 may send a different alert level than the first radar detector
102 determined, because the first mobile communication device 114 may
utilize more aggregated data and/or a more thorough analysis algorithm
122 than the first radar detector 102, which may lead to differences in
threat probability determinations.

[0058] In addition, while the first radar detector 102 is providing an
initial alert to the user, it also may communicate the signal to the
first mobile communication device 114, which may communicate the signal
to the server 118 for further analysis by analysis algorithm 122. The
analysis algorithm 122 may recognize that there is no record relating to
or describing the signal in the database 120 and the server 118 may
communicate a threat level and/or predicted alert level based upon the
probability calculated by analysis algorithm 122 that a new
electromagnetic signal is a police monitoring unit or other safety risk,
or the server 118 may provide a default alert until additional data is
received and analyzed by analysis algorithm 122. The server 118 may send
a different threat level and/or predicted alert level than either the
first radar detector 102 and/or first mobile communication device 114
determined, because the server 118 may utilize more aggregated data
and/or a more thorough analysis algorithm 122 than the first radar
detector 102 and/or the first mobile communication device 114, which may
lead to differences in probability determinations.

[0059] As one skilled in the art will recognize, any combination of the
first radar detector 102, the first mobile communication device 114, and
the server 118 may analyze the signal using analysis algorithm 122 and
determine its own alert level and remain within the scope and spirit of
the invention. For example, the first radar detector 102 may conduct an
initial analysis and communicate the detection data and initial alert
level to the first mobile communication device 114 which communicates the
initial alert to the user via its user interface and communicates the
detection data to the server 118 without conducting any analysis. The
server 118 then executes analysis algorithm 122 to conduct further
analysis and communicates an updated threat level and/or predicted alert
based upon the analysis to first mobile communication device 114 which
communicates the updated alert to the user via its user interface.

[0060] Alternatively, the mobile police radar unit 110 may be turned off
until the operator turns it on to specifically target a vehicle. This may
prevent the first radar detector 102 from receiving the electromagnetic
signal until the operator of the mobile police radar unit 110 targets a
car in the vicinity. However, once the first radar detector 102 receives
the signal and uploads it to server 118 via the first mobile
communication device 114, the server 118 may provide an update based upon
an analysis in server 118 to a memory component of the second mobile
communication device 114 such that as the second radar detector 104
approaches the location of this threat, the second mobile communication
device 114 provides an alert prior to the second radar detector 104
receiving the electromagnetic signal from the mobile police radar unit
110.

[0061] The server 118 communicates the threat probabilities and/or
predictions calculated by analysis algorithm 122 based on specific
geographic locations to each of the radar detectors 102-104 based on the
corresponding geographic locations associated with each of the radar
detectors 102-104. As one skilled in the art will recognize, geographic
locations associated with the first radar detector 102 may include the
geographic area in which the first radar detector 102 is currently
located, geographic areas which the first radar detector 102 is
approaching or likely to approach, geographic areas designated by the
user of the first radar detector 102, and/or suggested by a mapping or
navigation component or device. One skilled in the art will also
recognize that the size, shape, scope, calculation, and/or any defining
parameters of an associated geographic area may vary and remain within
the scope and spirit of the present invention. Each of the radar
detectors 102-104 periodically receives or downloads a subset of these
threat probabilities and/or predicted alert levels calculated by analysis
algorithm 122 from the server 118 via the mobile communication devices
114-116 that correspond to the current geographic locations associated
with each of the radar detectors 102-104, including for example road
segments currently traveled and road segments likely to be traveled in
the future, and/or the particular time of day, day of week, or month of
year. Each of the radar detectors 102-104 uses its location determining
unit and corresponding timestamp data to provide real-time threat levels
and/or predicted alert levels specific for the corresponding motor
vehicles 106-108 using the radar detectors 102-104, on that day, at that
time, at that geographic location, on that heading, at that speed and
acceleration, under those weather and traffic conditions.

[0062] In an embodiment, the radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile
communication devices 114-116 may be operably associated with a
navigation component or device. In such an embodiment, the geographic
location associated with the radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile
communication devices 114-116 may include the route suggested by the
navigation component or device. The analysis algorithm 122 may calculate
threat levels and/or predicted alert levels based upon data associated
with the roadway that the first radar detector 102 is currently located
on and any roadways likely to be traveled, and may consider the speed,
conditions, direction of travel, history of driving, and/or any other
factors associated with travel on the road segments. The first radar
detector 102 and/or the first mobile communication device 114 may prompt
the navigation component or device to suggest alternate routes if an
alert probability threshold is surpassed. Alternatively, the radar
detector user may respond to threat levels and/or predicted alert levels
associated with a primary route suggested by the navigation application
by requesting the navigation application to suggest an alternative route.

[0063] One skilled in the art will recognize that the location determining
unit may operate based on a relative location based system, a
latitude/longitude system, another coordinate system, a map segment based
system, a cellular or WiFi triangulation system, an accelerometer and
compass system or any other system for identifying a location and/or any
combination of location systems. In one embodiment, the radar detectors
102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116 use a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver as the location determining unit. In
another embodiment, the radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile
communication devices 114-116 use a device determining the current map
segment position as the location determining unit. One skilled in the art
will recognize that the location determining unit may be part of the
mobile communication devices 114-116, the radar detectors 102-104, and/or
any component or device in operable association with the mobile
communication devices 114-116 and/or the radar detectors 102-104.

[0064] For example, the server 118 may provide the threat levels and/or
predicted alert levels predicted by analysis algorithm 122 for the mobile
police radar unit 110 to the radar detector and/or mobile communication
device within second motor vehicle 108 because the geographic locations
for the second motor vehicle 108 indicate that the second motor vehicle
108 is currently approaching or may approach the mobile police radar unit
110. In another example, the server 118 no longer provides the threat
levels and/or predicted alert levels for the fixed police radar unit 112
to the first motor vehicle 106 because the geographic locations for the
first motor vehicle 106 indicate that first motor vehicle 106 has already
passed and is currently moving away from the fixed police radar unit 112.
In another example, mobile communication devices 114-116 may retrieve
data from server 118 based on each of their current locations. Such data
will generally be limited to data relevant to a particular geographic
area or a road segment on which the particular mobile communication
device is currently operating, or other user-defined grouping of data to
prevent the unnecessary transfer of irrelevant data.

[0065] The server 118 may also communicate the threat levels and/or
predicted alert levels based on geographic locations specific to a
particular mobile communication device that is not directly communicating
with any radar detector, based on a corresponding geographic location for
the particular mobile communication device. In some embodiments, the
particular mobile communication device must subscribe to a threat level
and/or predicted alert level service. Although the particular mobile
communication device may not directly communicate with any radar
detector, the particular mobile communication device user may act as an
additional data supplier by submitting a confirmation of law enforcement
speed monitoring activity associated with the geographic location of the
particular mobile communication device. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, the particular mobile communication device may be any device
that can be operably associated with the server 118, including a mobile
phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a satellite phone, a navigation
system, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, a laptop
computer, a tablet computer, and/or any other device with wireless
connectivity.

[0066] Each of the radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication
devices 114-116 may communicate an alert level to a corresponding user
based on threat levels and/or predicted alert levels that correspond to
the geographic locations of the radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile
communication devices 114-116. The alert level resulting from the threat
level and/or predicted alert level may be communicated to the user
through a display, a mechanical response, and/or an audible or voice
alert via the radar detector and/or the mobile communication device. For
example, the second radar detector 104 flashes red and beeps rapidly
while the second mobile communication device 116 displays a 95% alert
level on a navigation map and provides a voice alert that identifies a
95% alert level when the second vehicle 108 approaches the fixed police
radar unit 112. This will allow, in turn, motor vehicle operators to
become more cognizant of traffic conditions by being warned in advance to
adhere to the posted speed limits, to avoid collisions with or the
obstruction of emergency vehicles and to avoid possible hazards such as
accidents, weather and other road hazards. One skilled in the art will
recognize that radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication
devices 114-116 may communicate an alert level to another device which
may provide an alert to the user of said other device. The other device
may be a navigation device, a vehicle component, a mobile display device,
a mobile audio device, and/or any device that can communicate with radar
detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116, but
may not be capable of communicating with server 118.

[0067] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the alert may be a color
change on the second radar detector 104, such as a series of
light-emitting diodes, and/or the information may be conveyed by the
second mobile communication device's interface, such as a liquid crystal
display, a projected image, and/or any display known or yet to be
discovered, which may be utilized by the second radar detector 104 and/or
the second mobile communication device 116, and will remain within the
scope and spirit of the invention. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, a mechanical response may be a vibration, a change to the
vehicle's operation (such as automatically decelerating the vehicle as a
safety risk approaches), and/or any other mechanical response known or
yet to be discovered and will remain within the scope and spirit of the
invention. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the audible alert
may be a beep, buzz, voice response, and/or any other audible alert known
or yet to be discovered and will remain within the scope and spirit of
the invention.

[0068] The radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices
114-116 include data storage components such as a buffer or other form of
memory and data processing components. In one embodiment, these
components may contain a selected data set and be capable of processing
all or portions of the analysis algorithm 122 within the radar detectors
102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116 for the data set
in memory. For example, the first radar detector 102 may contain a data
set in memory relating to the surrounding geographic area that includes
threat levels and/or predicted alert levels within that geographic area.
As the first radar detector 102 is in use it collects additional data
relevant to the same geographic area and aggregates the collected data
with the stored data, and executes the analysis algorithm 122 to
calculate updated threat probabilities and threat levels based upon the
aggregated data. This embodiment allows continued updating in a given
area without connection to the server 118 permitting continued analysis
without taking up the second communication network's bandwidth and/or
analysis when connection to the server 118 is not available.

[0069] In another example, the first mobile communication device 114 may
contain an even larger data set in memory relating to the surrounding
geographic area that includes threat levels and/or predicted alert levels
within that geographic area. As the first radar detector 102 is in use it
collects additional data relevant to the same geographic area and
communicates the additional data to the first mobile communication device
114 via the first communication standard. The first mobile communication
device 114 aggregates the collected data with the stored data, and
executes the analysis algorithm 122 to calculate updated threat
probabilities and alert levels based upon the aggregated data. This
embodiment also allows continued updating in a given area without
connection to the server 118 permitting continued analysis without taking
up the second communication network's bandwidth and/or analysis when
connection to the server 118 is not available. Alternatively, a user of
the system may elect to delay data updates until a certain time of day
when, for example, data transfer rates may be improved. For another
example, the user may elect to delay data updates until such time as they
are able to use a Wi-Fi connection instead of the mobile communication
device's data plan. Furthermore, it should be noted that any data
retrieved will generally be stored in the mobile communication device's
non-volatile memory so that all data is retained, even if the device is
turned off or the mobile communication application is terminated.

[0070] Communication with the server 118 may be based upon a schedule to
upload collected data to the server 118 and a schedule to download any
updated data from the server 118. For example, if the server 118 predicts
a change in alert levels in the geographic area to occur around 4:30
p.m., the server 118 may initiate a download of updated alert levels to
the first mobile communication device 114 at 4:15 p.m., or if the device
is powered off, the next time it is powered on. In addition,
communication with the server 118 may be triggered by specified events.
For example, as the first radar detector 102 approaches the geographic
boundary of data within the currently stored data set, the first radar
detector 102 may initiate communication with the server 118 via the first
mobile communication device 114 in order to download an updated data set
based upon the current geographic location of the first radar detector
102 and the direction of travel. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, the extent and scope of the data set stored in memory of the
radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116,
and the extent of analysis conducted within the data processor of the
radar detectors 102-104 and/or the mobile communication devices 114-116
may vary and remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0071] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the system and method may
be effectuated with a specialized hardware device running specialized
software, may be effectuated with a software application that can be
loaded and executed in existing hardware, or any combination of hardware
and software components and remain within the scope and spirit of the
invention. For example, in an embodiment a software application is
provided for a user to load onto mobile communication device 114. The
software application can execute to communicate data to and from radar
detector 102, communicate information regarding predicted alerts and
other information via the user interface, receive user inputs via the
user interface, analyze stored and received detection data, determine the
time and location detection data is received, and communicate data to and
from server 118 via the second communication standard. In another
embodiment, a set of software applications is provided for a user to
install on the user's existing radar detector 104 and mobile
communication device 116 to facilitate the system and method of operation
described.

[0072]FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a map illustration with overlaid
alert levels which may be displayed on an interface associated with any
of the mobile communication devices 102-104 or other devices. For
example, the display may be shown on a mobile phone, a portable computer,
and/or an electromagnetic signal detector having a display.

[0073] A key 200 shows the overlay styles and associates a meaning, such
as the alert level, with each style of overlay. As one having skill in
the art will recognize, any meaning may be associated with a given
overlay style and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. In
the depicted embodiment, there are four overlay styles: an overlay design
202 associated with a high alert level, an overlay design 204 associated
with a medium alert level, an overlay design 206 associated with a low
alert level, and an overlay design 208 associated with a not applicable
alert level due to a lack of data. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, any number of overlays may be employed and remain within the
scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, any overlay design may be
used, including color overlays, line designs (such as those pictured),
animations, degrees of opacity, other designs and/or any combination of
colors and designs.

[0074] A map 210 depicts a street layout with portions overlaid with alert
levels associated with the key 200. For example, overlay segment 212 has
the overlay design 204 indicating that the road section covered by
overlay segment 212 has a medium alert level, overlay segments 214 and
220 have the overlay design 206 indicating that the road sections covered
by overlay segments 214 and 220 have a low alert level, and the overlay
segments 216 and 218 have the overlay design 202 indicating that the road
sections covered by overlay segments 216 and 218 have a high alert level.
In addition, the portions of the map 210 not overlaid with overlay
designs 202-206 are overlaid with overlay design 208 indicating that an
alert level is not applicable due to a lack of data in areas covered by
the overlay design 208. Overlay segments may be associated with specific
road segments, such as those depicted by the overlay segments 212-216, or
may be based upon an area evaluation, such as the rectangular overlay
segment 218 and radial overlay segment 220 depicted in this embodiment.
As one skilled in the art will recognize, overlay segments may correlate
to individual road segments, grid sections of a map, geographic areas,
shapes, and/or any design related to the map or the geographic area the
map represents, and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0075] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the various overlay
segments 212-220 may change which overlay design is displayed as a mobile
communication device downloads an update from the server 118. For
example, the analysis algorithm 122 may predict that a road section
covered by a portion of the overlay segment 214 should be associated with
a high alert level based upon data collected by the first radar detector
102. Accordingly, once the first mobile communication device 114 (or
radar detector in other embodiments) downloads the update, the relevant
portion of the overlay segment 214 will depict the overlay design 202
indicating the high alert level, while the remainder of the overlay
segment 214 will maintain the overlay design 206 indicating a low alert
level. For an additional example, individual road segments may change
color on the map 210 to indicate reevaluated predicted alert levels.

[0076]FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of process 300. The
process 300 may be a method executed by the system 100 and/or a computer
program product to provide predictions based on data analyzed from the
radar detectors 102-104.

[0077] In box 302, data is transmitted via a first communication standard.
For example, the first radar detector 102 communicates data that
indicates detection of the fixed police radar unit 112 to the first
mobile communication device 114 by the Bluetooth standard.

[0078] In box 304, data is received via a first communication standard.
For example, the first mobile communication device 114 receives the data
that indicates detection of the fixed police radar unit 112.

[0079] In box 306, data is communicated to a user of a mobile
communication device and/or a user of another device based at least
partially on user input from a user interface of the mobile communication
device. For example, the user interface of the mobile communication
device 114 communicates the data that indicates detection of the fixed
police radar unit 112 to the user of the mobile communication device 114.
As one skilled in the art will recognize, the data may also include
information received from other radar detectors associated with the
system 100 which have passed through and/or any other data sources which
are associated with or entered into the system 100.

[0080] With reference to FIG. 4, a block diagram depicts the system 400
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The depicted system
400 includes a first radar detector 402 and a second radar detector 404.
The first radar detector 402 is used by a first motor vehicle 406 and the
second radar detector 404 is used by a second motor vehicle 408.
Electromagnetic signal devices depicted in FIG. 4 include a mobile police
radar unit 410, such as a police motorcycle equipped with a radar gun, a
fixed police radar unit 412, such as a traffic light camera or fixed
speed camera, and a motion-sensing door 414, such as an automatic front
door for a restaurant that is situated towards the road on which the
motor vehicles 406-408 are traveling. The radar detectors 402-404 may
detect electromagnetic waves emitted from devices 410-414.

[0081] The system 400 may also include a first network interface 416, a
second network interface 418, a server 420, a database 422, and an
analysis algorithm 424. The network interfaces 416-418 may enable the
radar detectors 402-404 to communicate via a communication network, such
as a cellular telephone network, a satellite network, a Wi-Fi, another
wireless network, and/or the Internet. The network interfaces 416-418 may
be incorporated into a single device with radar detectors 402-404 or may
be otherwise associated with radar detectors 402-404 through wired or
wireless communication. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the
system may operate on one or more public networks, private networks or
combinations of public and private networks. As one skilled in the art
will recognize, the system 400 may include any number of radar detectors
402-404, motor vehicles 406-408, electromagnetic emitting devices
410-414, network interfaces 416-418, servers 420, databases 422, and
analysis algorithms 424 and should not be limited to the illustrative
example provided in FIG. 4.

[0082] The first radar detector 402 accesses the first network interface
416 that promotes communication of data to and from the server 420.
Similarly, the second radar detector 404 accesses the second network
interface 418 that promotes communication of data to and from the server
420. Each of the radar detectors 402-404 and the server 420 has the
ability to initiate the process of sending or receiving data. The data
may relate to location, speed, and/or acceleration of the motor vehicles
406-408, law enforcement activity, detectable electromagnetic waves,
traffic patterns and/or conditions, safety alerts, evacuation notices,
and/or any other hazards or alerts, identified and flagged at the
discretion of the server 420 and/or the users of the radar detectors
402-404. The data may also include driving patterns of vehicles 406-408
and/or specific driving patterns of individuals including patterns
relating to the driver's typical reaction to specific alerts under
specific circumstances. This allows server 420 to utilize database 422 to
customize the alert levels it uploads for each user in order to adjust
the alert levels to correlate to the advanced warning desired by the
driver.

[0083] For example, the first radar detector 402 detects the fixed police
radar unit 412 and the motion sensing door 414 and communicates data
representing these detections to the server 420. In another example, the
second radar detector 404 also detects the fixed police radar unit 412
and the motion sensing door 414 and communicates data representing these
detections to the server 420. As one skilled in the art will recognize,
radar detectors 402-404 and server 420 may communicate data in real-time
or may communicate data based upon a schedule, a triggering event (such
as reaching a data quantity threshold or a data storage size threshold),
and/or a combination of a schedule and triggering event and remain within
the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, radar detector 402
detects the fixed police radar unit 412 and the motion sensing door 414
and stores data representing these detections in internal memory, such as
a buffer. Once a threshold quantity of data is surpassed in the buffer,
radar detector 402 communicates data representing these detections to the
server 420. For another example, radar detector 404 may not receive any
detection while traveling other roadways and stores data representing the
absence of detections along the traveled path. At scheduled times radar
detector 404 may communicate data representing the absence of detections
to the server 420.

[0084] Upon receipt of such data, the server 420 stores the data into
physical or electronic memory in the database 422, which may be part of
the server 420 or separate from the server 420. The server administrators
may also add other data to the database 422 (pertaining to law
enforcement, safety, hazards, public notices, local knowledge, or driving
in general) that are not measurable in the electromagnetic and laser
spectrums of the radar detectors 402-404. This additional data may be
updated periodically by the server 420, automatically or through manual
data entry. The analyzed data includes the data from the radar detectors
402-404, other data added by administrators as indicated above, and data
from other data suppliers, such as local knowledge and observed
conditions.

[0085] The server 420 executes analysis algorithms 424 that periodically
collect, sort, organize, and analyze the data. In a preferred embodiment,
the data is associated with database 422, but as one skilled in the art
will recognize, analysis algorithms 424 may incorporate or otherwise
analyze data from sources other than database 422 and remain within the
scope and spirit of the invention. These analysis algorithms 424 may
include statistical or predictive calculations relating to the likelihood
of future threats, hazards, alerts, law enforcement speed monitoring
activity, or traffic conditions. The storage capacity and processing
capacity of the radar devices 402-404 may be significantly less than the
storage capacity and the processing capacity of the database 422 and the
server 420. As a result, the database 422 and the server 420 may provide
the capability to execute complex analysis algorithms 424 using
significant quantities of aggregated data, including data that is not
readily available to the radar detectors 402-404. The output of each
analysis algorithm 424 may be a calculated predictive threat level value
or series of values that attempts to approximate and quantify the
statistical likelihood of there being law enforcement monitoring activity
and/or other safety risks in the geographic locations ahead of or in the
immediate vicinity of the motor vehicles 406-408. In some embodiments,
the analysis algorithm may tailor the resulting threat level value or
values to an individual radar detector and/or driver based in part upon
any considerations entered by the user and/or the user's stored driving
patterns. The analysis algorithm may also consider the current day, time,
geographic location, heading, speed and acceleration of motor vehicles
406-408 to tailor a predicted alert value.

[0086] The "crowd-sourcing" method of data aggregation is based on
analyzing data aggregated from multiple data sources, such as the radar
detectors 402-404. The "crowd-sourcing" method of data aggregation may
produce more accurate results than analysis based on a single source of
data, such as data from one of the radar detectors 402-404.

[0087] For example, the analysis algorithm 424 analyzes data that
represents detection of electromagnetic signals from the fixed police
radar unit 412 by the radar detectors 402-404 and calculates a very high
threat level, such as a 95% certainty, that the fixed police radar unit
412 is a law enforcement speed monitoring device. This prediction may be
based on a single factor or a combination of factors. For this example,
the same pattern of the electromagnetic waves repeatedly detected from
the fixed police radar unit 412 by the radar detectors 402-404 on a
frequent basis may be highly indicative of a law enforcement speed
monitoring device. Additionally, the data may indicate that the source of
these electromagnetic waves never moves and never ceases to emit
electromagnetic waves because there is no data indicating an absence of
detections from this location. The regularity indicated by this data
combined with geographic data that approximates the source of these
electromagnetic waves at a busy traffic intersection may enable the
analysis algorithm 424 to predict that the fixed police radar unit 412 is
a speed-detecting traffic camera fixed at the intersection. An additional
factor used to calculate a threat level may be a confirmation of law
enforcement speed monitoring activity input by a radar detector user. The
analysis algorithm 424 may modify the high probability of 95% certainty
to 100% certainty if a specified number of radar detector users submit
such confirmations.

[0088] In another example, the analysis algorithm 424 analyzes data that
represents detection of electromagnetic signals from the motion-sensing
door 414 by the radar detectors 402-404 and calculates a very low threat
level, such as a 5% certainty, that the motion-sensing door 414 is a law
enforcement device or other safety risk. This prediction may be based on
a single factor or a combination of factors. For this example, the same
pattern of the electromagnetic waves repeatedly detected from the
motion-sensing door 414 by the radar detectors 402-404 on a frequent
basis may not be highly indicative of a law enforcement device or other
safety risk. Additionally, the data may indicate that although the source
of these electromagnetic waves never moves, the emission of the
electromagnetic waves and the absence of detections of the
electromagnetic waves coincides with normal business hours for a
restaurant. The regularity indicated by this data combined with
geographic data that approximates the source of these electromagnetic
waves at a restaurant may enable the analysis algorithm to predict that
the motion-sensing door 414 is not a law enforcement device or other
safety risk. Although a calculation of a threat level may be based on a
motion-sensing door 414 and these exemplary factors, predictions may be
based on other types of electromagnetic wave devices and other factors.
As one skilled in the art will recognize, a prediction may consider
signal analysis including the signal band analysis, signal frequency
analysis, signal strength or intensity measurements, and/or any other
signal analysis. For example, the received signal band may be compared to
known signal regulations imposed by the FCC or other regulatory or
licensing body. For instance, if the signal is in the X or K bands it may
be a motion-sensing door, however, if the signal is in the Ka band it is
unlikely to be a motion-sensing door. For another example, the received
signal band may be compared to previously identified signal bands stored
in database 422. For instance, database 422 may have stored information
associated with one geographic location regarding an X band signal that
has a high probability of representing law enforcement activity and a Ka
band signal that has a low probability of representing law enforcement
activity. If a received signal is in the Ka band, the previously
identified Ka band signals in the geographic location may factor in
analysis algorithm 424 calculating a low probability of the received Ka
band signal representing law enforcement activity. A known Ka band
microwave communication tower is an example of a non-law enforcement
source that may be factored into analysis algorithm 424.

[0089] A third radar detector (not depicted in FIG. 4) may derive the
benefits from the system 400 based on detections made by the first radar
detector 402 and the second radar detector 404 even when the third radar
detector approaches the fixed police radar unit 412 for the very first
time. The third radar detector may provide an alert for the fixed police
radar unit 412 without having previously observed and recorded any band
emissions from that geographic location. The alert provided by the third
radar detector may be based upon periodically received data from server
420 pertaining to predicted probabilities and/or threat levels for
potential threats in the local area. Therefore, the system 400 may
provide benefits to radar detector users who have never traveled on a
specific road segment before based on data from the multiple radar
detectors 402-404 that have previously traveled on the specific road
segment. Similarly, devices other than radar detectors which are capable
of receiving predicted alert levels and/or threat levels in the local
area from server 420 may also provide alerts based on data from the
multiple radar detectors 402-404.

[0090] When signals are detected, an alert level may be based upon the
predicted probability, or threat level, that the detected signals
represent a law enforcement monitoring device or other safety risk. When
signals are not detected, an alert level may be based upon the predicted
probability, or threat level, that a law enforcement monitoring device or
other safety risk is within a vicinity determined by radar detector 402,
server 420, and/or defined by a user. The alert level may be defined in
any number of levels whereby each alert level is correlated to a range of
probabilities. For example, if there are two alert levels, a 0-50%
probability may represent no threat or a weak or irrelevant received
signal or an ignore level while a 51-100% probability may represent a
high threat level, and/or strong and/or highly relevant received signal.
For another example, four alert levels may be defined by probability
ranges 0-40% (no threat or an ignore level), 41-65% (minor threat),
66-85% (mid-level threat), and 86-100% (high threat). For another
example, five alert levels may be defined based upon ranges along a
probability scale from -50 to 50, whereby probability ranges of -50
through -30 represent a no threat or an ignore level, probability ranges
of -29 through -1 represent a minor threat, probability ranges of 1
through 30 represent a mid-level threat, probability ranges of 31 through
50 represent a high threat, and a probability of zero indicates no stored
data for analysis.

[0091] The server 420 may calculate a multitude of probabilities and/or
associated threat levels based on specific subsets of the data. The alert
levels may also be based on data associated with specific geographic
location boundaries. This process may create threat levels specific to
grid regions bounded by latitude and longitude, or specific to "road
segments" where detailed map data is available. In addition, the server
420 may associate a weighted factor to various data to represent the
strength and/or reliability of the data.

[0092] Threat levels and/or the probabilities may be stored in physical or
electronic memory on the server 420 and/or the database 422. For example,
the server 420 may store the 95% probability for the fixed police radar
unit 412 and the 5% probability for the motion-sensing door 414 in the
database 422 associated with the geographic location for the road segment
currently traveled by the motor vehicles 406-408. The radar detector user
may respond differently to predicted probabilities, such as 95%, 50%, and
5%. For example, the user of radar detector 402 may program radar
detector 402 to provide a minor alert level if there is a 50% predicted
probability or threat level, while the user of radar detector 404 may
program radar detector 404 to provide a no alert or an ignore level if
there is a 50% predicted probability, or threat level.

[0093] The density of data stored for any geographic location may vary by
region. Database algorithms may automatically balance the data density
for specific regions based on population density, data density, or other
factors in each region. The server 420 may adjust how frequently the
analysis algorithms 424 are executed, and evaluate how an ever-enlarging
set of data impacts the efficiency of the analysis algorithms 424.

[0094] The server 420 may instruct radar detectors 402-404 to occasionally
override, mute, or alter any audible alerts that the server 420
identifies as highly likely to be false alerts, thereby suppressing false
alerts in real-time or near-real time as needed. For example, the server
420 may instruct radar detectors 402-404 to provide the 95% threat level
and/or a high alert to the motor vehicles 406-408 traveling on the road
segment associated with the fixed police radar unit 412, but suppress the
5% threat level and/or an ignore for the motion-sensing door 414 located
nearby the same road segment. In addition, radar detectors 402-404 may
provide an anticipatory alert based upon a high threat level in the
anticipated travel segment. For example, radar detector 402 may provide
an anticipatory alert prior to receiving a radar signal from fixed police
radar unit 412 when motor vehicle 406 is traveling towards fixed police
radar unit 412 with a determined 95% threat level. In addition, radar
detector 402 may increase the given alert once a signal is received from
fixed police radar unit 412.

[0095] The threat levels and/or probability that the analysis algorithm
424 may predict and that the server 420 may communicate to the radar
detectors 402-404 are supplementary to the normal operation of the radar
detectors 402-404. For example, the mobile police radar unit 410 may
arrive on a police motorcycle at a geographic location where
electromagnetic waves have never been detected by the radar detectors
402-404 previously. However, the first radar detector 402 may still
detect the mobile police radar unit 410 and provide an alert level and/or
detection alert level to the operator of the first motor vehicle 406 even
before the first network interface 416 communicates data representing
this detection to the server 420. Radar detector 402 also may or may not
check its internal database for a probability or threat level before
communicating an alert to the user. For example, the first radar detector
402 may determine that the detected signal is not stored in the internal
memory of radar detector 402 and communicate an alert to the user based
upon the internal analysis and settings of radar detector 402 for new or
unrecognized signals. In one embodiment, a default setting of radar
detector 402 would treat new or unrecognized signals as a threat and
provide a default alert or a detection alert unless an internal analysis
indicated that the signal is likely a false positive. In addition, while
the radar detector 402 is providing an initial alert to the user, it also
may communicate the signal to server 420 for further analysis. Server 420
may recognize that the signal is not in the database and communicate an
anticipatory alert based upon the probability that the new
electromagnetic wave is a police monitoring unit or other safety risk, or
the server 420 may provide a default threat level until additional data
is received and analyzed. Server 420 may send a different threat level
than radar detector 402 determined, because server 420 may utilize more
aggregated data and/or a more thorough analysis algorithm 424 than radar
detector 402, which may lead to differences in probability
determinations.

[0096] Alternatively, mobile police radar unit 410 may be turned off until
the operator turns it on to specifically target a vehicle. This may
prevent radar detector 402 from receiving the electromagnetic signal
until the operator of mobile police radar unit 410 targets a car in the
vicinity. However, once radar detector 402 receives the signal and
uploads it to server 420, server 420 may provide an update to a memory
component of radar detector 404 such that as radar detector 404
approaches the location of this threat, radar detector 404 provides an
anticipatory alert prior to receiving the electromagnetic signal from
mobile police radar unit 410.

[0097] The server 420 communicates the predictions based on specific
geographic locations to each of the radar detectors 402-404 based on the
corresponding geographic locations associated with each of radar
detectors 402-404. As one skilled in the art will recognize, geographic
locations associated with radar detector 402 may include the geographic
area in which radar detector 402 is currently located, geographic areas
which radar detector 402 is approaching or likely to approach, geographic
areas designated by the user of radar detector 402, and/or suggested by a
mapping or navigation component or device. Each of the radar detectors
402-404 periodically receives or downloads a subset of these predicted
alert levels and/or threat levels from the server 420 that correspond to
the current geographic locations associated with each of the radar
detectors 402-404. Each of radar detectors 402-404 uses its location
identifier and corresponding timestamp data to provide real-time
predicted alert levels specific for the corresponding motor vehicles
406-408 using the radar detectors 402-404, on that day, at that time, at
that geographic location, on that heading, at that speed and
acceleration, under those weather and traffic conditions.

[0098] In an embodiment, radar detectors 402-404 may be operably
associated with a navigation component or device. In such an embodiment,
the geographic location associated with radar detectors 402-404 may
include the route suggested by the navigation component or device. The
analysis algorithm 424 may calculate predicted threat levels based upon
data associated with the roadway radar detector 402 is currently located
on and any roadways likely to be traveled, and may consider the speed,
conditions, direction of travel, history of driving, and/or any other
factors associated with travel on the road segments. Radar detector 402
may promote the navigation component or device to suggest alternate
routes if an alert probability threshold is surpassed. Alternatively, the
radar detector user may respond to threat levels associated with a
primary route suggested by the navigation application by requesting the
navigation application to suggest an alternative route.

[0099] One skilled in the art will recognize that the location identifier
may operate based on a relative location based system, a
latitude/longitude system, another coordinate system, a map or road
segment based system (such as one supplied by Google, Inc., Navteq or
similar companies), a cellular or Wi-Fi triangulation system, any other
system for identifying a location and/or any combination of location
systems. In one embodiment, radar detectors 402-404 use a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver as the location identifier. In another
embodiment, radar detectors 402-404 use a device determining the current
map segment position (or proximity to the nearest map segment) as the
location identifier. One of skill in the art will recognize that a map
segment is a representation of a physical road segment.

[0100] For example, the server 420 may provide the threat levels for a
geographic area containing the fixed police radar unit 412 and a second
geographic area containing the motion-sensing door 414 to the second
motor vehicle 408 because the geographic locations for the second motor
vehicle 408 indicate that the second motor vehicle 408 is currently
approaching or may approach the fixed police radar unit 412 and the
motion-sensing door 414. Conversely, the server 420 no longer provides
the threat levels for the fixed police radar unit 412 to the first motor
vehicle 406 because the geographic locations for the first motor vehicle
406 indicate that first motor vehicle 406 has already passed and is
currently moving away from the fixed police radar unit 412.

[0101] The server 420 may also communicate the predictions based on
specific geographic locations to a mobile communication device, such as a
mobile telephone which is not depicted in FIG. 4, based on a
corresponding geographic location for the mobile communication device. In
some embodiments, the mobile communication device must subscribe to a
threat level service. Although the mobile communication device may not
have the capacity to detect electromagnetic signals, the mobile
communication device user may act as an additional data supplier by
submitting a confirmation of law enforcement speed monitoring activity
associated with the geographic location of the mobile communication
device. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may act as
network interface 416 by transmitting and receiving data with server 420
and radar detector 402. As one skilled in the art will recognize, a
mobile communication device may be any device that can be operably
associated with server 420, including a mobile phone, a smart phone, a
satellite phone, a portable computer, a navigation system with wireless
connectivity, an electromagnetic signal detector, a citizens band radio,
and/or any other device with wireless connectivity. In addition, a device
without wireless connectivity, such as a navigation system or GPS system
without wireless connectivity, may employ a static but updatable version
of the system by downloading a database of threat levels from server 420
into the device's storage element. The device without wireless
connectivity could communicate predicted alerts to the user of such
device based on the threat levels stored in the device. The database in
the device could be updated periodically by the user by connecting the
device to a networked device or an external storage device, such as a
portable hard drive, in which the database is stored.

[0102] Each of the radar detectors 402-404 communicates an alert level to
a corresponding radar detector user based on predictions, or threat
levels, that correspond to the geographic locations of the radar
detectors 402-404, as well as other predictive data described above. The
resulting alert may be communicated to the radar detector user through a
display, a mechanical response, and/or an audible or voice alert via the
radar detector or another mobile device, such as a mobile telephone. For
example, the second radar detector 404 flashes red, beeps rapidly,
displays a 95% alert level, and provides a voice alert that identifies a
95% alert level when the second vehicle 408 approaches the fixed police
radar unit 412. Each of the radar detectors 402-404 may communicate the
initial detection alert level, a predicted alert level or threat level,
and/or a combined alert level to a radar detector user. In addition, each
of the radar detectors 402-404 may communicate other relevant data, such
as local traffic, safety or evacuation notices, For example, the first
radar detector 402 may provide a first display showing a medium detection
alert, a second display showing a 85% probability threat level, a third
display showing a combined 95% alert level, and an audible voice alert
providing notice that speed limits in the local area are known to be
strictly enforced. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the display
may be color change on the radar detector, a series of light-emitting
diodes, a liquid crystal display, and/or any other display known or yet
to be discovered and will remain within the scope and spirit of the
invention. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the mechanical
response may be a change to the vehicles operation, such as automatically
decelerating the vehicle as a safety risk approaches and/or any other
mechanical response known or yet to be discovered and will remain within
the scope and spirit of the invention. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, the audible alert may be a beep, buzz, voice response, and/or
any other audible alert known or yet to be discovered and will remain
within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0103] Radar detectors 402-404 include data storage components such as a
buffer or other form of memory and data processing components. In one
embodiment, these components may contain a selected data set and be
capable of processing all or portions of analysis algorithm 424 within
radar detectors 402-404 for the data set in memory. For example, radar
detector 402 may contain a data set in memory relating to the surrounding
geographic area that includes predicted alert levels within that
geographic area. As radar detector 402 is in use it collects additional
data relevant to the same geographic area and aggregates the collected
data with the stored data, and analysis algorithm 424 calculates updated
probabilities and threat levels based upon the aggregated data. This
embodiment allows continued updating in a given area without connection
to server 420 permitting continued analysis without taking up the
communication network's bandwidth and/or analysis when connection to
server 420 is not available. Communication with server 420 may be based
upon a schedule to upload collected data to server 420 and a schedule to
download any updated data from server 420. For example, if a server
predicts a change in threat levels in the geographic area to occur around
4:30 p.m., it may initiate a download of updated threat levels to radar
detector 402 at 4:15 p.m. In addition, communication with server 420 may
be triggered by specified events. For example, as radar detector 402
approaches the boundary of data within the currently stored data set,
radar detector 402 may initiate communication with server 420 in order to
download an updated data set based upon the current location of radar
detector 402 and the direction of travel. As one having skill in the art
will recognize, the extent and scope of the data set stored in memory of
radar detectors 402-404 and the extent of analysis conducted within the
data processor of radar detectors 402-404 may vary and remain within the
scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0104] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of process 500. The
process 500 may be a method executed by the system 400 and/or a computer
program product to provide predictions based on data analyzed from
networked radar detectors.

[0105] In box 502, data is communicated from electromagnetic signal
detectors to a server. For example, the first radar detector 402 and the
second radar detector 404 communicate data that indicates detection of
the fixed police radar unit 412 to the server 420.

[0106] In box 504, an analysis algorithm is executed to analyze data and
generate predictions of alert levels based on geographic locations. For
example, the analysis algorithm predicts a 95% probability, or threat
level, that the fixed police radar unit 412 is a law enforcement speed
monitoring device based on the aggregated data received from the first
radar detector 402 and the second radar detector 404. As one skilled in
the art will recognize, the aggregated data may also include information
received other radar detectors associated with the system which have
passed through the identical segment or segments in close proximity to
that segment and/or any other data sources which are associated with or
entered into the system. In addition, one skilled in the art will
recognize that a plurality of radar detectors is not necessary because a
single radar detector may collect data for aggregation over time, thereby
supporting the predictive analysis.

[0107] In box 506, predictions of alert levels and/or threat levels based
on geographic locations are communicated to a mobile communication
device. For example, the server 420 communicates the 95% probability
and/or a high threat level to the radar detectors 402-404 whenever any of
the radar detectors 402-404 approach the geographic location likely to
contain fixed police radar unit 412.

[0108] In box 508, predictions of alert levels and/or threat levels based
on geographic locations are communicated to mobile communication device
users. For example, the second radar detector 404 receives the 95%
probability, or threat level, and communicates an alert level to the
operator of the second motor vehicle 408 whenever the second motor
vehicle approaches the geographic location likely to contain fixed police
radar unit 412.

[0109] The radar detectors 402-404 and/or their mobile communication
devices may utilize the "cloud computing" software usage model, where
individual client devices can quickly begin using the latest software
without the need for a firmware update or hardware revision. Changes made
on the database or "cloud" side may be seen in near-real-time for the
installed client/user base.

[0110] On boot, the radar detectors 402-404 may query the server 420
and/or the database 422 for any updates to the data upload packet
protocol, and download any updates as appropriate. This may be a simple
software change, a firmware update, and/or any other method for updating.
Once the packet protocol is loaded, the radar detectors 402-404 may read
data coming from the logging outputs of the radar detectors 402-404 in
real time, and may parse that data according to the loaded packet
protocol before reformatting the data and uploading the data to the
server 420. Based on the volume of data that the server 420 receives from
the radar detectors 402-404, the server 420 may adjust the packet
protocols and parsing algorithms to get the highest quality of data using
the lowest possible bandwidth.

[0111] In another embodiment, radar detectors 402-404 have a proximity
mode designed for use when multiple radar detectors and/or mobile
communication devices are within a certain proximity to one another.
Server 420 may monitor the geographic proximity of radar detector 402 to
radar detector 404. When server 420 determines that radar detectors
402-404 are within a certain proximity to one another, server 420 may
transmit instructions to radar detectors 402-404 to execute in proximity
mode. In the proximity mode, radar detectors 402-404 operate with a
real-time or near-real-time communication with server 420 which analyzes
and transfers updates to each radar detector in the given proximity. For
example, when radar detectors 402-404 are within a given proximity and
operating in proximity mode, if radar detector 402 detects an
electromagnetic signal, radar detector 402 communicates data regarding
the detected electromagnetic signal to server 420 in near-real time.
Server 420 analyzes the new data from radar detector 402, updates threat
levels based upon the new data, and communicates the updated threat
levels to radar detector 404 in near-real time. When radar detectors
402-404 separate beyond a certain proximity, both radar detectors exit
out of proximity mode (unless one is within proximity to another device).
As one skilled in the art will recognize, what constitutes a certain
proximity may vary, and the proximity for entering proximity mode and
exiting proximity mode may be the same or may differ and remain within
the scope and spirit of the invention. Proximity mode's functional
distance may vary based on vehicle speed, heading, time of day, volume of
data in the database at that location, or any other criteria not listed
here, and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0112] FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of the system 600 according to
another embodiment of the disclosure. System 600 facilitates
communication for the identification of potential threat levels
associated with vehicular travel. The depicted system 600 includes a
first mobile communication device 602 associated with a user of the first
motor vehicle 604 which also includes a navigation unit 603. The system
600 further includes a second mobile communication device 606 associated
with a user of the second motor vehicle 608 which also includes a
citizens band radio 610. Also included within system 600 are third mobile
communication device 612 and computer 614. The first mobile communication
device 602, the second mobile communication device 606, the citizens band
radio 610, the third mobile communication device 612, and computer 614
may be collectively referred to as communication devices.

[0113] As an example, the first motor vehicle 604 may be a commuter
vehicle used by one or more people to travel to and from work. The first
mobile communication device 602 may be a smart phone associated with a
driver or passenger of the first motor vehicle 604. In some embodiments,
a display associated with navigation unit 603 may be used to assist the
user of first motor vehicle 604. In some embodiments, both the navigation
unit 603 and the first mobile communication device 602 may be equipped
with components to interface with communication network 616 and
facilitate communications over the communication network 616. In other
embodiments, the navigation unit 603 may not directly interface and/or
communicate over communication network 616. In some embodiments, the
navigation unit 603 may interface with the first mobile communication
device 602 using a short-range communication standard, such as
Bluetooth®, in order to access communication network 616.

[0114] In this embodiment, the second motor vehicle 608 may be a
commercial vehicle used for long drives sometimes into unfamiliar areas.
In the embodiment shown, the second motor vehicle 608 includes citizens
band radio 610 and the second mobile communication device 606, which may
be a tablet computer in this example. In some embodiments, both the
citizens band radio 610 and the second mobile communication device 606
may be equipped with components to interface with communication network
616 and transmit data and communication over the communication network
616. In other embodiments, the citizens band radio 610 may provide the
capability to communicate over the citizens band frequencies, but not
directly interface and/or communicate over communication network 616. In
some embodiments, the citizens band radio 610 may interface with the
second mobile communication device 606 in order to access communication
network 616. As an example, citizens band radio 610 may interface with
second mobile communication device 606 using a short-range communication
standard, such as Bluetooth®, which may act as a conduit to allow the
user to utilize the citizens band radio controls to communicate on
communication network 616 as described further in U.S. Pat. No. 8,078,120
assigned to Cobra Electronics Corporation which is incorporated herein by
reference. Although a citizens band radio is the illustrative embodiment
disclosed herein, one skilled in the art will recognize that other radio
transceivers may be used in conjunction with and/or instead of the
citizens band radio. Such radio transceivers may operate on any frequency
and remain within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure,
including business band, aviation, VHF, marine bands, and public safety
frequencies. The radio transceivers may also operate with the Multi Use
Radio Service and/or the General Mobile Radio Service.

[0115] The third mobile communication device 612 in this embodiment may be
another smart phone used by a bicyclist. The third mobile communication
device 612 may be mounted on the front of the bicycle such that the user
may view the display while riding. In addition, the third mobile
communication device 612 may be in operative communication with speakers
and a microphone attached or integrated into the cyclist's gear, such as
a helmet, glasses, or other gear. In such an embodiment, the cyclist may
be able to operate the third mobile communication device 612 using a
voice control system and receive audio and visual feedback from system
600 through the third mobile communication device 612. One skilled in the
art will recognize that the third mobile communication device 612 may be
operated by other types of users, such as pedestrians, emergency
personnel, businesses, the general public and others.

[0116] The computer 614 may be a household computer that is utilized to
report local knowledge and recent observations, and used to review
information regarding an upcoming trip. In some embodiments, computer 614
may be part of a network of computers utilized by system 600 to improve
the processing of analysis algorithm 622.

[0117] As one skilled in the art will recognize, certain components
described herein for illustrative purposes may be utilized in additional
or alternative manners. For example, third mobile communication device
612 may be used in a third motor vehicle (not shown), second mobile
communication device 606 may be used by a patron at a restaurant to share
a good or bad experience across communication network 616, computer 614
may be a laptop computer which is utilized in a motor vehicle to collect
and store information received by other components in the vehicle for
transmission over the communication network 616 at another time. In some
embodiments, the devices may be removable from their environment while
others are attached and/or integrated with other components to prevent or
increase the difficulty of removal. For example, citizens band radio 610
may be integrated into the dashboard of the second motor vehicle 608
while the second mobile communication device 606 may be designed to
easily engage and disengage from a support location in the second mobile
communication device 606.

[0118] In some embodiments, the system and method may be effectuated with
a specialized hardware device running specialized software, may be
effectuated with a software application that can be loaded and executed
in existing hardware, or any combination of hardware and software
components and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0119] System 600 also includes a communication network 616 through which
the communication devices may communicate with a server 618. In this
embodiment, server 618 is associated with database 620 and analysis
algorithm 622. The communication network 616 may comprise one or more
public networks, private networks or combinations of public and private
networks operating on and/or in conjunction with a cellular telephone
network, a satellite network, a Wi-Fi, another wireless network, the
Internet, and/or any other communication network. As used herein,
communication network 616 may include the protocols, controls, systems,
and/or components for facilitating communication among different types of
networks.

[0120] The communication devices may operate on the same communication
network 616 and/or different communication networks 616. For example, the
third mobile communication device 612 may operate on a Wi-Fi network at a
local book store to access the Internet, first mobile communication
device may operate on the cellular network to access the Internet, and
computer 614 may connect directly to the Internet. As one skilled in the
art will recognize, the system 600 may include any number of
communication devices (602, 606, 610, 612, and 614), motor vehicles 604
and 608, communication networks 616, servers 618, databases 620, and
analysis algorithms 622 and should not be limited to the illustrative
example provided in FIG. 6.

[0121] The first mobile communication device 602 accesses the
communication network 616 and promotes communication of data to and from
the server 618. Similarly, the second mobile communication device 606,
citizens band radio 610, third mobile communication device 612, and
computer 614 may access the communication network 616 and promote
communication of data to and from the server 618. Each of the
communication devices and the server 618 has the ability to initiate the
process of sending or receiving data. The data may relate to location,
speed, and/or acceleration of the motor vehicles 604-608, law enforcement
activity, detectable electromagnetic waves, traffic patterns and/or
conditions, safety alerts, evacuation notices, and/or any other hazards
or alerts, identified and flagged at the discretion of the server 618
and/or the users of the communication devices. Safety alerts may include
notifications provided by emergency response teams and vehicles, severe
weather warnings, custom alerts, and/or other alerts to facilitate safe
driving. For example, a bicyclist may create a custom alert to provide
vehicles in the area advance warning of the bicyclist's location in order
for the vehicles to change lanes or increase the awareness of their
surroundings to avoid the bicyclist. Similarly, a pedestrian may activate
an alert that warns users in the area of the pedestrian's location when
they are proximate to or on a roadway. In some embodiments, the
bicyclist's and pedestrian's respective mobile communication devices may
limit or alter the alerts based upon the user's proximity to the
roadways. As another example of a safety alert, emergency response
vehicles may provide an indication of their location and/or route to the
system 600 when operating under emergency conditions in order to alert
other users of system 600.

[0122] The data may also include driving patterns of vehicles 604-608
and/or specific driving patterns of individuals including patterns
relating to the driver's typical reaction to specific alerts under
specific circumstances. For example, the data may include records of time
between the first mobile communication device 602 providing an alert to
the user of first motor vehicle 604 and a change in a driving
characteristic such as acceleration or a change in lanes or direction,
and the reaction data may be subsequently used to indicate the extent of
advanced warning that a user needs to adjust their driving in given
circumstances. This allows server 618 to utilize database 620 to
customize the alert levels it uploads for each user in order to adjust
the alert levels to correlate to the advanced warning desired by the
driver.

[0123] As discussed with earlier embodiments, communication of data with
the server 618 may be in real-time or based upon a schedule, a triggering
event (such as reaching a data quantity threshold or a data storage size
threshold), and/or a combination of a schedule and triggering event and
remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, each of
the communication devices may operate under different communication
patterns. For example, the first mobile communication device 602 may
conduct real time communication with server 618, computer 614 may
communicate only on instruction from the user of computer 614, and third
mobile communication device 612 may communicate data based on a
triggering event--i.e. entering a Wi-Fi operation mode.

[0124] Upon receipt of such data, the server 618 may store the data into
physical or electronic memory in the database 620, which may be part of
the server 618 or separate from the server 618. The server administrators
and/or other users may also add and/or cause the addition of other data
to the database 620 (pertaining to law enforcement, safety, hazards,
public notices, local knowledge, or driving in general). For example, a
user of computer 614 may add data based upon their local knowledge and
observed conditions such as locations of frequent wrecks, a new social
hotspot, and/or an upcoming event, such as a parade. As another example,
the system administrator may schedule periodic updates of information
from other databases than database 620, such as a traffic analysis
database, a social media database, map databases, emergency responder
databases, weather databases (such as the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Association ("NOAA") database for weather warnings),
work-zone databases, law enforcement equipment use in a geographic
location (such as a database identifying types of radar and laser guns in
use for a given county), and other databases which may benefit system
600. This additional data may be updated periodically by the server 618,
automatically or through manual data entry. The analyzed data may include
data from radar detectors, the communication devices, databases,
administrators, and other data suppliers.

[0125] In this embodiment, the server 618 executes analysis algorithms 622
that periodically collect, sort, organize, and analyze the data. As
discussed above with respect to other embodiments, analysis algorithms
622 may utilize data in database 620 and/or incorporate or otherwise
analyze data from sources other than database 620. These analysis
algorithms 622 may include statistical or predictive calculations
relating to the likelihood of future threats, hazards, alerts, law
enforcement speed monitoring activity, traffic conditions, communication
content, relevance to the community, and/or other considerations. For
example, the analysis algorithm 622 may receive data from second mobile
communication device 606 indicating the receipt of a K-band signal and a
geographic location. Based upon the geographic location, the analysis
algorithm 622 may indicate a low level alert or ignore the alert based on
a determination that the law enforcement equipment used in the area does
not employ K-band signals.

[0126] As discussed above with respect to other embodiments, the storage
capacity and processing capacity of the associated devices may vary and
impact the extent of information stored on a device and processing
capability of the device. One skilled in the art will recognize that
although the analysis algorithm 622 is discussed with respect to the
server 618, any one of the components--including the communication
devices (602, 606, 610, 612, and 614), server 618, and other associated
devices, such as radar detectors, navigation units, displays, etc.--may
include and operate the analysis algorithm 622. In addition, in some
embodiments of system 600, different aspects of the analysis algorithm
622 may be operated by different components such that any one or more
components may execute the analysis algorithm 622 in whole or in part and
remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In such embodiments
where the analysis algorithm 622 is operated in whole or in part by
different components, the various components may reconcile the analysis
on a real-time, periodic, scheduled, and/or triggered basis.

[0127] In some embodiments, the analysis algorithm 622 may tailor the
resulting output to an individual based in part upon any considerations
entered by the user and/or the user's stored driving patterns. The
analysis algorithm may also consider the current day, time, geographic
location, heading, speed and acceleration of motor vehicles 604-608 to
tailor a predicted alert value.

[0128] The analysis algorithm 622 may analyze a multitude of
probabilities, communications, and/or associated threat levels based on
specific subsets of the data, i.e. for specific times of the day, days of
the week, or months of the year. The analysis may also be based on data
associated with specific geographic location boundaries. This process may
create alerts, communications, and/or other outputs specific to grid
regions bounded by latitude and longitude, or specific to "road segments"
where detailed map data is available. In addition, the analysis algorithm
may associate a weighted factor to various data to represent the strength
and/or reliability of the data. For example, a diminishing weight factor
may be associated with data based on the age of the data such that older
data has a lower weight factor. One skilled in the art will recognize
that many variables may be considered to determine a weight factor for
any data, different weight factors may be applied for different
calculations, weight factors may change over time for all data or
specific data, and multiple weight factors may be associated with any
data to effect the overall weight of the evidence during analysis and
remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the
extent of time in which an entry, such as an alert, announcement, or
notification, is available may depend upon the age of the entry, the
content of the entry, the source of the entry, additional activity
related to the entry (i.e. comments, views, etc.), additional entries in
a proximate geographic location to the initial entry, and other factors.
Each of the factors may be weighted according to the analysis algorithm
622, user settings and/or activity, and/or other data and analysis. The
user history and/or settings associated with the user that originated the
entry, the user that is receiving the entry, and/or system administrators
may also alter the applicability and availability of various entries.

[0129] In addition, the density of data stored for any geographic location
may vary by region. Database algorithms may automatically balance the
data density for specific regions based on population density, data
density, or other factors in each region. The server 618 may adjust how
frequently the analysis algorithms 622 are executed, and evaluate how an
ever-enlarging set of data impacts the efficiency of the analysis
algorithms 622.

[0130] Based on the geographic locations associated with each of the
communication devices, the server 618 may communicate real-time data,
near real-time data, recorded data, and/or predictions derived by the
analysis algorithm 622. As one skilled in the art will recognize,
geographic locations associated with the communication devices may
include the geographic area in which each communication device is
currently located, geographic areas which each communication device is
approaching or likely to approach, geographic areas designated by the
user of each communication device, and/or suggested by a mapping or
navigation component or device. One skilled in the art will also
recognize that the size, shape, scope, calculation, and/or any defining
parameters of an associated geographic area may vary and remain within
the scope and spirit of the present invention. Each of the communication
devices periodically receives or downloads a subset of the data,
recordings, announcements, predicted alert levels and/or threat levels
from the server 618 that correspond to the current geographic locations
associated with each communication device, including for example road
segments currently traveled and road segments likely to be traveled in
the future, and/or the particular time of day, day of week, or month of
year. Each communication device uses its location identifier and
corresponding timestamp data to provide real-time data and/or predictions
for the user, on that day, at that time, at that geographic location, on
that heading, at that speed and acceleration, under those weather and
traffic conditions.

[0132] Each of the communication devices communicates information, such as
data, recordings, and/or alert levels, to a corresponding user based on
the geographic locations of the communication devices, as well as other
predictive data described above. The resulting information may be
communicated to the user through a display, a mechanical response, and/or
an audible or voice output via a mobile communication device or another
mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, citizens band radio, or other
radio. For example, a light on the citizens band radio 610 may flash red
as the second motor vehicle 608 approaches the location of a recorded
message and may provide a voice alert that identifies a classification
for the recorded message. In addition, some communication devices may
communicate other relevant data, such as local traffic, safety alerts,
evacuation notices, custom alerts, local messages, and/or potential
available users for a live communication. For example, the first mobile
communication device 602 may provide a first display showing alert levels
and active custom alerts, a second display showing a list of users within
a defined radius, a third display showing a recordings regarding
entertainment options, and an audible voice alert providing notice that
speed limits in the local area are known to be strictly enforced. This
will allow, in turn, motor vehicle operators to become more cognizant of
traffic conditions by being warned in advance to adhere to the posted
speed limits, to avoid collisions with or the obstruction of emergency
vehicles and avoiding possible hazards such as accidents, weather and
other road hazards. For example, server 618 may receive a weather alert
from an associated weather source, such as NOAA, and facilitate the
transmission of the weather alert to the first mobile communication
device 602. The first mobile communication device 602 may display a map
showing counties affected by the weather alert with a flashing purple
background. In addition, the first mobile communication device 602 may
provide an audible weather warning automatically or based upon user
controls, geographic location and/or other basis.

[0133] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the display may be color
change on the radar detector, a series of light-emitting diodes, a liquid
crystal display, and/or any other display known or yet to be discovered
and will remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. As one
skilled in the art will recognize, the mechanical response may be a
change to the vehicles operation, such as automatically decelerating the
vehicle as a safety risk approaches, and/or any other mechanical response
known or yet to be discovered and will remain within the scope and spirit
of the invention. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the audible
alert may be a beep, buzz, voice response, and/or any other audible alert
known or yet to be discovered and will remain within the scope and spirit
of the invention.

[0134] System 600 may be utilized for a variety of alert and communication
processes. For example, system 600 may facilitate the communication of
predictive and/or submitted alerts associated travel, such as high
traffic areas, law enforcement activity, traffic accidents, hazards,
bicycle warnings, and other travel alerts. In another example, system 600
may facilitate verbal communication among groups of people based upon one
or more factors. In some embodiments, analysis algorithm 622 may include
voice recognition capabilities to analyze the live broadcasts and
recorded voice messages to evaluate potential alerts in conjunction with
additional information from system 600 users.

[0135] In another example, system 600 may facilitate the sharing of
recordings among users. In some embodiments, the system 600 may include
components and/or software for converting audio data to visual data and
visual data to audio data. For example, the user of the first mobile
communication device 602 may create a voice recording which is
transmitted to the server 618. Upon receipt, the server 618 converts the
voice message into a text message and facilitates communication of the
text message to the second mobile communication device 606. For another
example, the user of the third mobile communication device 612 may create
a text recording which is transmitted via the communication network 616
to the first mobile communication device 602. Upon receipt, the first
mobile communication device 602 may determine that the first mobile
communication device 602 is traveling above a threshold speed and
automatically convert the text message into a voice message to play to
the user of the first mobile communication device 602 via the operatively
associated speakers within the first motor vehicle 604.

[0136] In some embodiments, system 600 may utilize database 620 and/or
analysis algorithm 622 for facilitating and/or determining the
distribution of alerts, communications, recordings, and other
information. For example, the analysis algorithm 622 may determine which
users in system 600 will receive an alert, communication, recording, or
other information based upon settings for each user (including both the
originating user and potential receiving users), a system status for each
user, and other system controls. In addition, the analysis algorithm 622
may evaluate when to provide certain information to a recipient based
upon various factors such as content of the information, historical
analysis of a potential recipient's driving characteristics, a geographic
location of potential recipient, and/or any other indications of interest
from the potential recipient or originating user. For example, analysis
algorithm 622 may identify information related to a roadway obstruction,
such as a traffic accident, in a user's current path of travel or a route
defined by navigation unit 603. After identifying such information, the
analysis algorithm 622 may determine when to provide the information
based upon the potential options for taking an alternative route and the
user's historical characteristics, such as their characteristics relating
to traffic accident notifications and timeframe to take the actions
necessary to change the routes. In some embodiments, the various uses
and/or capabilities of system 600 may be integrated in part or in whole.

[0137] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of process 700. The
process 700 may be a method executed by the system 600 and/or a computer
program product to facilitate communication of data, recordings, and/or
predictions based on data in database 620 and or collected from
components of system 600.

[0138] In box 702, data is transmitted via a communication network to a
server. For example, the first mobile communication device 602
communicates data that indicates a road closure over communication
network 616 to server 618. In some embodiments, the communication network
616 may utilize an alternative to server 618 or otherwise bypass server
618.

[0139] In box 704, data may optionally be analyzed based upon the internal
server settings and/or other received data. For example, a voice
recording transmitted by citizens band radio 610 may be analyzed by
analysis algorithm 622 to determine if the recording indicates a
potential alert or threat at a specified location. If the recording is
indicative of a threat at a specified location, the analysis algorithm
622 may incorporate the data into an alert level analysis with other
information related to the location and/or indicated threat.

[0140] In box 706, data is received via a communications network from a
server. For example, a motorcyclist using the third mobile communication
device 612 may receive a recording from the server 618 which is from a
person within the motorcyclist's user group and states that anyone in the
area should meet up for a bite at the local restaurant off the next exit.

[0141] In box 708, data is communicated to a user of a mobile
communication device and/or a user of another device based at least
partially on user input from a user interface. For example, the user
interface of the first mobile communication device 602 communicates the
data that indicates an emergency hospital location ahead and provides a
recording that indicates vehicles should be cautious because due to a
nearby wreck there are more emergency responders in the area than normal.
As one skilled in the art will recognize, the data may also include
information received from other communication devices associated with the
system 600 which have passed through and/or any other data sources which
are associated with or entered into the system 600.

[0142] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a map illustration with overlaid
communication areas. In some embodiments, the map illustration may be
displayed on an interface associated with any of the communication
devices. In other embodiments, only portions of the map illustration may
be provided to a user of an interface associated with one of the
communication devices. For example, the user interface may only depict
the map 800 and an indication of the current location of user 802
associated with a communication device.

[0143] Map 800 depicts a street layout with portions overlaid with first
communication area 804 and second communication area 806. The
communication areas 804 and 806 are provided herein to illustrate options
for defining areas of communication and/or distribution of information
among users of system 600. The depictions of communication areas may or
may not be included in the displays associated with system 600.

[0144] In this embodiment, each communication area 804 and 806 is depicted
with a different pattern which may be associated with a different
communication setting. For example, first communication area 804 has the
first overlay design indicating that the area is within an open broadcast
zone. Second communication area 806 has the second overlay design
indicating that the area is within a user group broadcast zone. To
illustrate this further, user 802 operating first mobile communication
device 602 may provide voice communications to server 618 through network
616. Based upon the user settings and the geographic locations of the
participants of system 600, the analysis algorithm 622 will determine the
users in which to distribute the voice communications. Based upon the
determination, server 618 may facilitate the distribution of the voice
communications to other users in communication area 804 with settings to
allow the receipt of open broadcasts, and users within communication area
806 which are in the user group associated with the first communication
device 602 and/or user 802. In some embodiments, each user group
associated with the first mobile communication device 602 may be
associated with separately defined communication areas. In addition, the
portions of the map 800 not overlaid with communication areas 804-806 may
indicate areas in which the user 802 will not receive or distribute
communications or information under the current settings. In other
embodiments, the portions of map 800 not covered by communication areas
804 and 806 may allow communication among select users only, such as
selected subscribers, invited users, family, and/or other specified
users.

[0145] As one having skill in the art will recognize, any meaning may be
associated with a given overlay style and remain within the scope and
spirit of the invention. In the depicted embodiment, there are two
overlay patterns associated with communication areas 804 and 806. As one
skilled in the art will recognize, any number of overlays may be employed
and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, any
overlay design may be used, including color overlays, line designs (such
as those pictured), animations, degrees of opacity, other designs and/or
any combination of colors and designs.

[0146] Communication areas may be associated with specific road segments
and/or areas, such as the radial communication areas 804 and 806 depicted
in this embodiment as an area based upon the location of user 802. As one
skilled in the art will recognize, communication areas may correlate to
individual road segments, grid sections of a map, geographic areas,
shapes, and/or any design related to the map or the geographic area the
map represents, and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Some additional non-exhaustive examples of communication areas and
implementations of system 600 are provided below.

[0147] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the various communication
areas 804 and 806 may change in display and/or operation as a mobile
communication device receives an update from the server 618 or receives
modified settings via a user interface associated with the mobile
communication device. For example, as the user 802 continues to travel
along road 808, the communication areas 804 and 806 may move in
conjunction with the movement of the user 802. As another example, the
analysis algorithm 622 may automatically alter the scope of each
communication area based upon characteristics of the environment and
history associated with user 802. For example, the analysis algorithm 622
may apply different restrictions based upon whether the user 802 is in a
city or a rural area. For instance, the radius of communication area 804
allowing open communications may be smaller in a city environment due to
the potential for an increased number of users associated with system 600
while the communication area 806 associated with a user group for user
802 remains the same. In a rural area, both communication areas 804 and
806 may expand. The analysis algorithm 622 may evaluate the scope of
communication areas based upon any number of factors, including but not
limited to user statistics of system 600, communication characteristics
(e.g. content, length, noise characteristics, etc.), environmental
characteristics (e.g. weather, alert levels, traffic, etc.), current
activity on system 600, historical activity on system 600, time,
proximity of other users, and/or other factors.

[0148] In addition, user controls may determine the scope of communication
areas 804 and 806. For example, user 802 may elect to set the
communication area 804 to 50 miles, but muting the microphone for
communication area 804 in order to listen to the community comments on
the open broadcast. The user 802 may also limit communication area 806 to
10 miles without muting the microphone in order to talk to nearby friends
within communication area 806. One skilled in the art will recognize that
the user controls may operate in conjunction with or as an alternative to
the control associated with analysis algorithm 622 in whole or in part.
In some embodiments, the analysis algorithm 622 may override the user
controls.

[0149] FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment of a map illustration with an
overlaid communication area. As discussed with regard to FIG. 8, the map
illustration may be displayed on an interface associated with any of the
communication devices in whole or in part, or not displayed in some
embodiments.

[0150] Map 800 depicts a street layout with portions overlaid with third
communication area 814. In this embodiment, user 802 is traveling along a
selected route from road 810 to second road 812. The route may be
selected from any communication device and/or other device associated
directly or indirectly with system 600 which includes a navigation or
route selection function. For example, user 802 may have selected a route
of travel from a navigation unit in the first motor vehicle 604 that
interfaces with the first mobile communication device 602. The first
mobile communication device 602 may communicate the selected route and
the aspects of the third communication area 814 with server 618 through
network 616.

[0151] In this embodiment, communication area 814 is depicted as an
overlay of the selected route. In this embodiment, the communication area
814 covers a width 816 with the selected route shown approximately with
approximately half the width 816 on each side. In other embodiments, the
width 816 may not be centrally positioned over the route. For example,
width 816 may be shifted along the route based upon the direction of
travel for user 802, whereby the width 816 of third communication area
814 may extend further on the right side of roads 810 and 812 in order
for the user 802 to receive information regarding the intended direction
of travel without the need to cross to the other side of the roads 810
and 812. As discussed with other embodiments, the position and shifting
of communication area 814 may be controlled in whole or in part by the
user 802 and/or the analysis algorithm 622.

[0152] In some embodiments, additional route based communication areas may
be included for a variety of purposes, such as those described in
conjunction with the first and second communication areas 804 and 806
discussed with FIG. 8. In some embodiment, the various communication
areas designs may be used in conjunction. For example, user 802 may
utilize the radial design of first communication area 804 (FIG. 8) and
the route based design of third communication area 814 to define the area
of an open broadcast zone. In addition, user 802 may select to listen to
any recorded entries regarding specified categories (such as traffic
notices, alert levels, and good restaurants) within third communication
area 814 as they are approached.

[0153] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the third communication
area 814 may change in display and/or operation as a mobile communication
device receives an update from the server 618 or receives modified
settings via a user interface associated with the mobile communication
device. For example, if the user 802 alters the route of travel, the
third communication area 814 may be recalculated to correspond with the
new route.

[0154] In some embodiments, user 802 may receive live broadcasts of from
other active users of live communications on system 600 and distributions
of other information based upon factors associated with the information
and user 802. For example, user 802 may elect to listen to live
broadcasts and to receive recordings and alerts related to traffic, law
enforcement activity, and refueling locations in the third communication
area 814. The analysis algorithm 622 may automatically rebroadcast
communications from other active users in the third communication area
814.

[0155] The analysis algorithm 622 may also determine when to provide the
relevant recordings and alerts based upon the route characteristics,
traffic, the historical and current driving characteristics of user 802,
and/or other factors. For example, the analysis algorithm 622 may
facilitate distribution of the recordings and alerts regarding refueling
locations a quarter-mile ahead of the relevant exit from the road 810 on
which user 802 is traveling based upon the speed of travel for user 802
and the current traffic conditions. As another example, analysis
algorithm 622 may facilitate distribution of an alert for law enforcement
activity a half-mile in advance of the location, but only if the speed of
travel for user 802 exceeds the speed limit of road 810 or a threshold
amount over the speed limit for road 810. As another example, the
analysis algorithm 622 may facilitate distribution of recordings and
alerts associated with a traffic accident when user 802 is determined to
be within an area affected by the traffic accident or approaching the
area affected by the traffic accident as determined information received
from users of system 600 and other sources of information. When
approaching the area affected by the traffic accident, the analysis
algorithm 622 may determine potential alternative routes and determine
when to facilitate distribution of the recordings and alerts based upon
the proximity of user 802 to potential alternative routes to the current
route with an identified traffic accident. In addition, the area affected
by a traffic accident may be defined based upon data, information,
communications from other users of system 600 in closer proximity to the
traffic accident. In addition, the analysis algorithm 622 may apply
different evaluations based upon whether the user 802 is in a city or a
rural areas.

[0156] FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment of a map illustration with an
overlaid communication area. As discussed with regard to other figures,
the map illustration may be displayed on an interface associated with any
of the communication devices in whole or in part, or not displayed in
some embodiments.

[0157] Map 800 depicts a street layout with portions overlaid with fourth
communication area 820, fifth communication area 822, and sixth
communication area 824. In this embodiment, user 802 is traveling along
road 810 in the direction of fifth communication area 822. The analysis
algorithm 622, may determine the direction of travel based upon a
selected route by user 802 or an analysis of the change in location over
time for user 802. For example, the last three locations of the second
mobile communication device 606 determined by a location determination
component associated with the device may be recorded. Based upon these
historical locations, the analysis algorithm 622 may operate within
second mobile communication device 606 to determine the direction of
travel for the second mobile communication device 606.

[0158] In this embodiment, fourth communication area 820 is depicted as a
circle overlay approximately centered on the location of user 802, fifth
communication area 822 is depicted as a angular shape with its vertex
approximately at the location of user 802, and sixth communication area
824 is location where the fourth communication area 820 and the fifth
communication area 822 overlap. The angle defining the fifth
communication area 822 may vary depending on a variety of factors
including how far the fifth communication area 822 extends from the user
802, as well as other factors including those discussed with respect to
other embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the fifth
communication area 822 will have a vertex at a point behind the user 802
such that the fifth communication area 822 encompasses the location of
user 802 by a certain amount. As discussed with other embodiments, the
position and shifting of communication areas 820-824 may be controlled in
whole or in part by the user 802 and/or the analysis algorithm 622.

[0159] As discussed in conjunction with other embodiments, communication
areas 820-824 may identify different categories of communication. For
example, fourth communication area 820 may be allow communication from a
selected user group (e.g. a fans headed to a selected game, a travel
caravan, etc.), fifth communication area 822 may allow communications and
alerts regarding traffic, predictive alerts, and other travel
information, and the sixth communication area 824 may provide an open
broadcast discussion. As discussed above, the various communication areas
designs may be used in conjunction. As one skilled in the art will
recognize, the communication areas 820-824 may change in display and/or
operation as a communication device receives an update from the server
618 or receives modified settings via a user interface associated with
the communication device.

[0160] FIG. 11 depicts another embodiment of a map illustration with icons
associated with specified locations. As discussed with regard to other
figures, the map illustration may be displayed on an interface associated
with any of the communication devices in whole or in part, or not
displayed in some embodiments.

[0161] Map 800 depicts a street layout showing the location of user 802.
The map 800 also includes a first icon 830, a second icon 832, and a
third icon 834. Each icon 830-834 is associated with a location depicted
on map 800. In this embodiment, user 802 is traveling along road 808
towards first icon 830. As discussed with other embodiments, the analysis
algorithm 622, may determine the direction of travel based upon a
selected route by user 802 or an analysis of the change in location over
time for user 802.

[0162] In this embodiment, the icons 830-834 are each associated with an
audible recording or entry associated with the location by system 600
and/or a user thereof. In other embodiments, the icons 830-834 may be
associated with other types of recordings or stored information. The
audible recordings may be unlimited and/or restricted by system 600. For
example, the system 600 may require all created audio recordings to be
limited by time (e.g. only 10 seconds, 1 minute, etc.), content, format,
noise characteristics, and/or other limitations. In addition, the system
600 may control the length of time in which a recording or entry is
available. For example, the analysis algorithm 622 may determine the
availability of a recording based upon characteristics of the recording
such as the categorization, age, reliability, activations of the
recording, and other characteristics. The analysis algorithm 622 may also
determine the availability of a recording based upon other factors such
as user settings, travel directions, user proximity to the recording,
additional data in system 600, and/or other information. Embodiments of
the system 600 may consider any one or more of the above characteristics
or factors.

[0163] In this embodiment, each icon 830-834 is depicted with a different
style which may be associated with a meaning, such as the content
category, user relevance, activity status, and other meanings. As one
having skill in the art will recognize, any meaning may be associated
with a given style and remain within the scope and spirit of the
invention. In the depicted embodiment, there are the three icons 830-834
each associated with a different style. The style of the first icon 830
may indicate that the recording relates to traffic situation such as a
wreck or law enforcement activity. In some embodiments, the style of
first icon 830 may further be varied to indicate a predicted alert level.
For example, a check pattern may indicate a traffic situation and a red
background may further indicate a high alert level. The style of the
second icon 832 may indicate that the recording relates to user group
entry such as a student group announcing an study session at the local
park. The style of the third icon 834 may indicate that the recording
relates to a sales establishment such as a restaurant, mall, or refueling
location. As one skilled in the art will recognize, any number of style
may be employed and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.
In addition, any design may be used, including color overlays, line
designs (such as those pictured), animations, degrees of opacity, other
designs and/or any combination of colors and designs.

[0164] As one skilled in the art will recognize, the various icons 830-834
may change which style is displayed as a communication device downloads
an update from the server 618 or a user updates their user settings. In
addition, the icons 830-834 may be removed and/or replaced over time
based upon determinations of analysis algorithm 622. In some embodiments,
the user settings may eliminate the presentation of one or more icons
830-834 and/or cause certain icons 830-834 to be highlighted and/or
diminished in view. For example, when user 802 associates a route with
system 600, icons 830-834 which are not on the route (such as icon 830)
may be diminished from view while those on the route (such as icon 832)
are highlighted.

[0165] After icons 830-834 are displayed on the communication device of
user 802, user 802 may select to hear the recording by pressing icon 830
to listen to the audio recording associated with the icon 830. In some
embodiments, user 802 may elect to receive recordings along the traveled
roads as they are approached. For example, if user 802 travels along road
836, the recording associated with icon 834 may automatically play once
the user 802 is within a threshold distance to the location associated
with icon 834.

[0166] In some embodiments, the icons 830-834 may represent information
provided by the system 600 from database 620 or other databases. For
example, icon 832 may indicate a work zone as indicated by a third party
database. In some embodiments, the icons 830-834 may be associated with
other indicators such as highlighted areas of interest and/or relevance.
For example, icon 832 may be associated with a highlighted road segment
indicating that the icon 832 is applicable to the road segment which is
highlighted--e.g. icon 832 may indicate that an active work-zone is in
the highlighted road segment.

[0167] In some embodiments, the systems and/or apparatuses disclosed may
automatically warn users of legal limitations on using mobile devices in
certain areas. For example, in locations which preclude drivers from
using cellular phones in school zones and/or work zones, a user's
communication device may alert the user to an approaching restricted
area. In some embodiments, the systems and/or apparatuses disclosed may
temporarily disable mobile devices in certain areas. In some embodiments,
a data filter is used to restrict the display of icons 830-834 and/or
other data from the server based upon parameters such as the
communication areas, content, user groups, alert levels, and/or other
categorizations or limitations relevant to the selection and display of
data, including customized data restriction.

[0168] FIGS. 12-16 depict embodiments of a smart phone 900 with different
displays associated with embodiments of the present disclosure. Each of
the FIGS. 12-16 include a depiction of smart phone 900 with button 902
and display 904. One skilled in the art will recognize that the
disclosure associated with smart phone 900 may be implemented with other
communication devices, including other types, styles, and designs of
smart phones. Other devices may include more or less components that
smart phone 900 and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
For example, some communication devices may include more buttons 902 as
part of a user interface, while other communication devices may not
include a button 902 as part of a user interface. For another example,
some communication devices may have more than one display 904. In some
embodiments, the user interface may comprise a touch-screen capability
associated with the display 904, one or more buttons 902, an audio
input/output system, a tactile output, and/or other user interface
components.

[0169] The various embodiments may be implemented in smart phone 900 using
software, updated hardware, and/or firmware. For example, the embodiment
in smart phone 900 may be available for download as a software
application that leverages existing hardware and capabilities of the
smart phone 900.

[0170] FIG. 12 further depicts smart phone 900 with a set of touch-screen
selectable options 906. In this embodiment, the options 906 include: a
report law enforcement activity button 908; a report caution area button
910; a broadcast button 912; and a recording button 914.

[0171] The report law enforcement activity button 908 allows a user to
provide indications of observed law enforcement activity associated with
a location. For example, a user of smart phone 900 traveling along a road
may see a police officer pulling over vehicles. When sighted, the user
may press the report law enforcement activity button 908 causing the
smart phone 900 to transmit data to a server, such as the servers
discussed with other embodiments, indicating the location of the sighted
police officer. In some embodiments, selection of the report law
enforcement activity button 908 may open another screen to provide
additional detail regarding the law enforcement activity. In some
embodiments, the application in smart phone 900 may allow a user to
provide an audio recording associated with the report of law enforcement
activity.

[0172] The report caution area button 910 allows a user to provide
indications of observed areas of caution associated with a location. For
example, a user of smart phone 900 traveling along a road may see a
broken down vehicle in one lane of traffic. When sighted, the user may
press the report caution area button 910 causing the smart phone 900 to
transmit data to a server indicating the location of the broken down
vehicle. As discussed with regard to other options, selection of the
report caution area button 910 may open another screen and/or provide
additional options to provide additional detail regarding the sighted
caution.

[0173] The broadcast button 912 allows a user to enter a communication
broadcast mode wherein the user may send and receive communication
broadcasts from other participants in the communication broadcast mode of
operation. For example, a commercial truck driver using smart phone 900
may enter a broadcast mode to communicate with other truck drivers and
broadcast mode participants. As discussed with other figures, the
communication area and participants may be limited by user and/or system
controls. One skilled in the art will recognize that the limited range
capabilities of a citizens band radio may be emulated by the broadcast
mode of smart phone 900, and improved by providing potentially limitless
range, user controls, user identification, and/or other improvements. As
discussed with regard to other options, selection of the broadcast button
912 may open another screen and/or provide additional options to provide
additional controls. Some embodiments will also facilitate transmitting
and receiving additional information regarding the broadcast users, such
as discussion topics (e.g. weather conditions, roadway conditions, etc.),
content limitations (e.g. no obscenity, no politics, only sports, etc.),
user groups (e.g. truckers, campers, spring break convoy, etc.), and/or
other relevant information.

[0174] In some embodiments, the broadcast mode of operation facilitates a
live communication system among the participants in the broadcast mode.
For example, the systems of the present disclosure may facilitate
broadcast mode by collecting streaming packets of audio from one user of
the system to the server and broadcast the streaming packets of audio to
other users of the broadcast system as determined by an analysis
algorithm associate with the server. In some embodiments, the server may
replicate the streaming packets for broadcasting to each of the other
users of the broadcast system. In some embodiments, the other users will
be determined by operation of the analysis algorithms evaluation of
participant restrictions. In other embodiments, the broadcast mode of
operation facilitates a half-duplex communication system among the
participants in the broadcast mode wherein an actuated control allows
either an audio input or an audio output to operate alternatively, but
not concurrently. In yet other embodiments, the broadcast mode of
operation facilitates a hybrid communication system among the
participants in the broadcast mode, wherein the audio input requires an
actuation control, but the audio output operated apart from the actuation
control. For example, a user of smart phone 900 may be required to press
a talk button to contribute to the conversation, but may receive the
broadcast audio on the speakers of smart phone 900 without regard to the
status of the talk button.

[0175] The recording button 914 allows a user to record a communication
which is associated with a geographic location and transmit it to a
database which provides the recording to other users of the system. For
example, a person using smart phone 900 may post a comment stating the
traffic is horrible around the stadium. In some embodiments, the
recording is limited to a short snippet of audio and provided only for a
limited amount of time. As discussed with other figures, the distribution
of recordings and user which may receive the recordings may be limited by
user and/or system controls. In some embodiments, the user information is
not associated with recordings. In such embodiments, limitations based
upon the originating user may not be applicable. As discussed with regard
to other options, selection of the recording button 914 may open another
screen and/or provide additional options to provide additional controls.
Some embodiments will also facilitate transmitting and receiving
additional information regarding the recording mode users, such as
discussion topics (e.g. weather conditions, roadway conditions, etc.),
content limitations (e.g. no obscenity, no politics, only sports, etc.),
user groups (e.g. truckers, campers, spring break convoy, etc.), and/or
other relevant information.

[0176] FIG. 13 further depicts smart phone 900 showing a map illustration
on display 904. In this embodiment, the display 904 shows a few operative
buttons which may be utilize to facilitate and/or control operation of
the application software. As an example, an options button 920 is located
at the top of display 904. The options button 920 may allow a user to
provide further information to the system and/or customize the
application options, such as audio, tactile, and/or visual outputs of the
user interface. In some embodiments, selecting the options button 920 may
cause the screen shown in FIG. 12 to appear.

[0177] The map illustration shown in FIG. 13 further depicts a variety of
symbols indicative of various information provided by one or more of the
systems disclosed herein. For example, first symbol 922 may indicate a
dangerous intersection, and second symbol 924 may indicate the location
of an active police officer. One skilled in the art will recognize that
the number, type, illustration, shape, color and/or other attributes of
the symbols may vary and remain within the scope and spirit of the
present disclosure. In some embodiments, a user may tap on a symbol to
receive additional information associated with the symbol. For example,
when a user taps on second symbol 924, an 87% alert level may be shown on
the bottom of display 904 and a voice may indicate there is a high
probability that a police officer is present.

[0178] FIG. 14 further depicts smart phone 900 showing a map illustration
on display 904. As with FIG. 13, the display 904 shows a few operative
buttons which may be utilize to facilitate and/or control operation of
the application software including options button 920.

[0179] The map illustration shown in FIG. 14 also depicts a variety of
symbols indicative of various information provided by one or more of the
systems disclosed herein. In this embodiment, third symbol 930 may
indicate a caution area, such as a traffic accident, roadwork, or user
specific caution. The depiction shows an embodiment of a summary screen
932 that may appear when the third symbol 930 is selected by a user. In
some embodiments, summary screen 932 may automatically appear based upon
an analysis indicating the user of smart phone 900 is approaching the
identified location. In this embodiment, summary screen 932 is associated
with a recording and provides initial information regarding the category
of information (i.e. caution area) and the time since the original
recording was created (i.e. 3 hours ago). In addition, the summary screen
932 provides the option to listen or ignore the recording in this
embodiment. If the user selects the listen button 934, the recording will
play on the speakers of smart phone 900 or an associated set of available
speakers. Alternatively, the user may select the ignore button 936 to
close the summary screen without listening to the recording. If the user
does not select either the listen button 934 or ignore button 936, the
smart phone 900 may determine whether to play or ignore the recording
based upon default or user selections and/or other factors.

[0180] FIG. 15 further depicts smart phone 900 with display 904 showing a
set of touch-screen selectable settings 940. In this embodiment, the
settings 940 include: an automatic launch control 942; an alert audio
control 944; an alert method control 946; and a volume control 948.

[0181] In this embodiment, the automatic launch control 942 is a
touch-screen button which shows the current selection in the view of a
toggle switch. For example, as shown the automatic launch feature of the
application is "off". If the automatic launch control 942 is touched, the
automatic launch control 942 may shift the depicted circular portion to
the right and indicated the feature is "on". One skilled in the art will
recognize that the user interface options for controlling the operation
of the application features may vary and remain within the scope and
spirit of the disclosure. The automatic launch feature may be designed to
initiate execution of an application and/or engagement of a component
associated with the system based upon a triggering event. In some
embodiments, the triggering event may include entering the operative
range of another component of the systems (e.g. a radar detector, a
vehicle, a computer, a CB, a navigation unit, etc.), a detected vehicle
operation (e.g. a threshold speed, sudden change in acceleration, etc.),
entering a location associated with a specified alert type or threshold
alert level, and/or other triggering events.

[0182] In some embodiments, the automatic launch feature applies to
launching the entire application and/or corresponding applications and
equipment in other operatively associated applications and/or components
of the systems disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the automatic
launch feature may apply to any one or more portions of the application
and/or corresponding applications and equipment in other operatively
associated applications and/or components of the systems disclosed
herein. In such embodiments, when automatic launch control 942 is "on",
additional detailed automatic launch controls may be provided for
selecting which aspects of the system will be automatically launched. For
example, the smart phone 900 may be associated with a car diagnostic
system which may be automatically launched to record car diagnostics upon
a sudden change in acceleration meeting a set threshold. In addition, the
display of user controls and selections may vary and remain within the
scope and spirit of the disclosure.

[0183] The alert audio control 944 and the alert method control 946 are
shown in this embodiment as touch-screen buttons which display the
options for selection and highlight the current selection for the user.
In some embodiments, the alert audio control 944 and/or the alert method
control 946 may comprise two or more buttons, wherein each button is
associated with a selectable option. In such embodiments, the application
may limit the selection to one option (i.e. the last option selected) or
may allow for multiple concurrent selections. For example, a user of
smart phone 900 may use alert audio control 944 to select both auto and
phone causing any audio alerts to be provided over both the vehicle
speakers and the audio output of smart phone 900. In some embodiments,
the alert audio control 944 and/or the alert method control 946 may
comprise a button which depicts only the current setting, and provides a
different indication of a selected setting each time the control 944 or
946 is toggled. In some embodiments, the selection in one control may
determine and/or limit the options provided by another control. For
example, if alert audio control 944 is set to "auto", the alert method
control 946 may only provide a voice alert.

[0184] In this embodiment, the volume control 948 is shown as a slide
control to allow the user to adjust the volume. In some embodiments,
alternative volume controls may work in conjunction with or instead of
volume control 948. For example, when alert audio control 944 is set to
"auto", the vehicle's volume controls may be used to control the overall
volume of the alert provided by smart phone 900.

[0185] FIG. 16 further depicts smart phone 900 with a set of touch-screen
selectable filters 950. In this embodiment, the filters 950 include: a
travel mode control 952; a user group control 954; a content control 956;
and a range control 958.

[0186] The travel mode control 952 is shown in this embodiment as a
touch-screen button which displays the options for selection and
highlights the current selection for the user. For example, a user of
smart phone 900 may use the travel mode control 952 to select either a
city mode of operation or a highway mode of operation. Various potential
applications and considerations relating to travel modes, such as city
and highway modes, are discussed further herein. As discussed with
respect to other figures and embodiments, the design, operation,
depiction, and/or other attributes of the controls may vary and remain
within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0187] In this embodiment, the user group control 954 and the content
control 956 are depicted as touch-screen buttons which shows the current
selection in the view of a toggle switch. For example, as shown the user
group and content filters of the application are "off". If the user group
control 954 is touched, the user group control 954 may shift the depicted
circular portion to the right and indicated the feature is "on". In some
embodiments, activating a filter may cause additional options for
filtering within the activated filter category. For example, the content
control 956 may shift the depicted circular portion to the right and
indicated the feature is "on" if the content control 956 is touched. Once
the content control 956 is "on", a separate filtering screen may be
displayed allowing the user to select specific content filters, such as a
kid-friendly filter, a trucker filter, weather filter, sports filter,
traffic filter, and/or other content filters. In some embodiments, the
additional detail filters may be shown in the filters 950 display. One
skilled in the art will recognize that the user interface options for
controlling the operation of the application features may vary and remain
within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, the display
of filter controls and selections may vary and remain within the scope
and spirit of the disclosure.

[0188] In this embodiment, the range control 958 is shown as a slide
control to allow the user to adjust the range of operation. In some
embodiments, alternative controls may work in conjunction with or instead
of the filter controls depicted and discussed herein. For example, while
the filters 950 display shows various settings, the options may be
selected and/or modified using voice controls. In some embodiments, the
application and/or system will allow for custom filters and controls to
be created, added, and/or modified by the user. For example, the
kid-friendly filter may be a separate feature that may be incorporated
into and/or operates in conjunction with the systems and embodiments
disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kid-friendly filter may
operate as a separate application on the user's smart phone 900. For
example, when the kid-friendly filter selected in the application, voice
communication received by smart phone 900 may be routed through the
kid-friendly filter application to minimize the likelihood that obscenity
is communicated to the user of smart phone 900.

[0189] FIG. 17 depicts an embodiment of user system 1000 which may operate
in connection with the systems of the present disclosure. In this
embodiment, user system 1000 comprises a smart phone 1002 and accessory
audio device 1004. The accessory audio device 1004 is depicted in this
embodiment operatively attached to smart phone 1002 via cord 1006. In
other embodiments, accessory audio device 1004 may be operatively
attached to smart phone 1002 by any operable communication standard, such
as the Bluetooth communication standard, the ZigBee communication
standard, the WiFi communication standard, or any hard-wired or wireless
other communication standard.

[0190] In this embodiment, the smart phone 1002 includes a display 1008
and a user interface control 1010. The smart phone 1002 may include one
or more additional user interface controls of the same or alternative
designs, including voice activation, touch-screen, movement controls,
and/or other types of controls.

[0191] In this embodiment, the accessory audio device 1004 comprises an
audio communication area 1012 and user control 1014. The audio
communication area 1012 is shown with three sections which may be
functional (i.e. associated with different functions) or merely
ornamental in design. The audio communication area 1012 may include any
number of audio components including speakers, microphones, transducers,
piezoelectric devices, and/or other audio components. In some
embodiments, the audio communication area may include only one type of
audio component. In some embodiments, the audio components associated
with the accessory audio device 1004 may improve sound quality received
by and/or output from the smart phone 1002. In some embodiments, the
accessory audio device 1004 may limit the need to operate the user
interface of smart phone 1002 to input and/or receive non-visual
information. In such embodiments, the smart phone 1002 may be mounted in
a preferred location to limit any driver distraction.

[0192] The user control 1014 depicted in this embodiment is a button which
may be actuated to control aspects of the accessory audio device 1004
and/or smart phone 1002. For example, a user of the accessory audio
device 1004 may use a voice control to activate a recording mode. While
in recording mode, the user may actuate user control 1014 to initiate a
recording and speak into the audio communication area 1012. Once the user
is done recording, the user may release the user control 1014 (or actuate
the user control 1014 a second time) to stop the recording process. Once
recorded, the recording may be associated with a location by smart phone
1002 and communicated to a system server. Once provided to the server,
the recording (or a link thereto) may be provided to users of the system.
In some embodiments, prior to communicating the recording to a system
server, the user may have an opportunity to playback the recording. In
such embodiments, the user may have the options to send, delete or
re-record the recording. In some embodiments, the accessory audio device
1004 may include one or more additional user controls, such as additional
buttons, knobs, etc.

[0193] In some embodiments, the recording is provided back to user system
1000. For example, after submitting a recording, icon 1016 may be
displayed on smart phone 1002 indicating the location of the user's own
recording. The style, design and/or other attribute of icon 1016 may
indicate that the recording was created by user system 1000. In some
embodiments, users may provide additional related comments to an existing
icon which are further associated with the existing icon. In such
embodiments, the style, design, and/or other attributes of the icon 1016
may change to indicate additional comments have been provided. In other
embodiments, additional comments may be placed at the same location, but
not associated with the existing icon.

[0194] In some embodiments, the user control 1014 may be actuated to
listen to recordings in which the user system 1000 is approaching. For
example, when user system 1000 is approaching icon 1018, the display 1008
of smart phone 1002 may flash to indicate a recording is available. The
user may listen to the recording by actuating user control 1014. In
addition, the user control 1014 may be used in a variety of methods,
systems, and/or modes of operation. For example, when operating in a
broadcast mode, the user control 1014 may be used to control half-duplex
communication--e.g. the user can broadcast when the user control 1014 is
depressed and listen when the user control 1014 is not depressed. In some
embodiments, user control 1014 is limited to broadcast communication
control, and a separate control on the accessory audio device 1004 is
provided to operate additional functionality.

[0195] In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1004 may be
operatively associated with a device other than smart phone 1002 such as
another type of phone, a navigation system, a personal digital assistant,
a portable computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and/or any
other device with a user interface and the capability to wirelessly
communicate. For example, the accessory audio device 1004 may be
connected via cord 1006 to a navigation unit which is operatively
associated with the systems of the present disclosure via a wireless
communication standard. For another example, the accessory audio device
1004 may be operatively associated with an electromagnetic signal
detector having a user interface and the capability to wirelessly
communicate. In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1004 may be
operatively associated with other devices via smart phone 1002 or another
intermediate device.

[0196] FIG. 18 depicts another embodiment of an accessory audio device
1100 which may operate in connection with the systems of the present
disclosure. In this embodiment, the accessory audio device 1100 is
depicted apart from other communication devices. The accessory audio
device 1100 may be operatively associated with the systems of the present
disclosure via a wireless communication standard. In some embodiments,
accessory audio device 1100 may be operatively associated with a system
via an operative association with a communication device over a first
communication standard as discussed with other figures and embodiments of
this disclosure. In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1100 may
be operatively associated with a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart
phone, a satellite phone, a navigation system, a personal digital
assistant, a portable computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer,
and/or any other device with a user interface and the capability to
wirelessly communicate.

[0197] In this embodiment, the accessory audio device 1100 comprises a
first user control 1102, a second user control 1104, a display 1106, and
an operation indicator 1108. In some embodiments, the accessory audio
device 1100 may include additional components such as a microprocessor, a
memory, a wireless communication component, etc. In addition, the
accessory audio device 1100 may include any number of internal audio
components including speakers, microphones, piezoelectric devices, and/or
other audio components. In some embodiments, the audio components
associated with the accessory audio device 1100 may improve sound quality
received by and/or output from an associated communication device. As
discussed with respect to other figures and embodiments, the accessory
audio device 1100 may limit the need to operate a user interface of other
devices. In this embodiment, the accessory audio device 1100 may be
mounted in a preferred location to limit any driver distraction and
provide ease of use. In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1100
includes one or more mounting components which facilitate the accessory
audio device 1100 to be removably mounted such as clips, magnets, hook
and loop tapes, etc. In some embodiments, the mounting components may not
facilitate ease of removal, such as bolts, adhesives, etc.

[0198] The first user control 1102 depicted in this embodiment is a button
which may be actuated to control aspects of the accessory audio device
1100 and/or other operatively associated devices. As discussed with
respect to other figures and embodiments, the first user control 1102 may
be used in a variety of ways.

[0199] The second user control 1104 is depicted as a rotatable control. In
some embodiments, the second user control 1104 may also operate as a
button similar to the first user control 1102. In some embodiments, the
second user control 1104 may be used to change variable controls, such as
volume and/or range. In other embodiments, the second user control 1104
may be used to assist in the navigation of other controls. For example,
as second user control 1104 is rotated, selectable options are shown on
display 1106 and/or an alternative display operatively associated with
the accessory audio device 1100, such as a communication device display.
When an option is shown and/or indicated on display 1106, the user may
actuate first user control 1102 or second user control 1104 to select the
displayed option. Display 1106 may comprise any type of visual output
device, such as a liquid crystal device, an LED array, etc.

[0200] In this embodiment, operation indicator 1108 may be another display
which depicts one or more symbols associated with a current mode of
operation for the accessory audio device 1100. In some embodiments, the
operation indicator 1108 may be a light, LED and/or other visible
indicator to depict a current mode of operation. For example, the
operation indicator 1108 may comprise an LED behind a cover to indicate
the whether the identified mode of operation is active or inactive. In
some embodiments, the operation indicator may comprise visual, audible,
tactile, and/or other modes of indication.

[0201] In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1100 may be used
outside of a vehicle. For example, the accessory audio device 1100 may be
carried by a user and operate in conjunction with a communication device
which is within range, such as a smart phone in the user's pocket. For
another example, the accessory audio device 1100 may be attached
magnetically to the metallic frame of a vehicle while the user is
checking the engine, refueling, at a loading dock, and/or otherwise
around the outside of a vehicle.

[0202] In some embodiments, the accessory audio device 1100 may operate as
a mobile communication device in the systems disclosed with respect to
other figures and embodiments. For example, the accessory audio device
1100 may include a wireless communication component, such as a cellular
communication component.

[0203] FIG. 19 depicts another embodiment of a user device 1200 which may
operate in connection with the systems of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the user device 1200 may replace, be integrated into, and/or
operate in conjunction with another device. For example, the user device
1200 may be integrated with a citizens band radio wherein the user may
elect to use the citizens band radio communications and/or communications
over the systems of the present disclosure.

[0204] In this embodiment, the user device 1200 included a variety of user
controls including: first knob 1202, second knob 1204, third knob 1206,
first slide control 1208, and second slide control 1212. In some
embodiments, display 1216 may also include user interface controls such
as touch-screen options. The user controls may be utilized to select
options related to communication of data, information, predictions,
and/or other information in the system. For example, the user controls
may be used for controlling and/or filtering broadcast communications. In
some embodiments, the controls may facilitate different operations
depending on a selected mode. For example, when the CB mode is selected,
the controls may be used to control aspects of the citizens band radio
communications, such as the frequency channels, and when the system
broadcast mode is selected, the controls may be used to operate separate
system limitations for communications over the systems of the present
disclosure.

[0205] In some embodiments, a separate device operatively associated with
the user device 1200 may be used to manage and/or configure one or more
aspects of the controls. For example, a server associated with one or
more user devices 1200 may be used to manage and/or configure the
operation of the controls. The server may be accessed by a computer,
mobile communication device, and/or another device. Settings for the
controls of user device 1200 may include channel selections, display
restrictions, range limitations, user group options, direction options,
and/or other configurable options. For example, a user may utilize a
tablet computer to access a communication system configuration page. On
the configuration page, the user may have the option to reconfigure one
or more of the controls associated with user device 1200. In some
embodiments, a user may setup user groups, such as friends, convoy
members, sports groups, traffic groups, destination friends, etc., which
may be selected as virtual channels associated with first knob 1202.
Settings may also relate to modes of operation, navigation routes, and/or
selected communication areas a for user device 1200.

[0206] In some embodiments, the user may configure the one or more
portions of display 1216. For example, a user may configure the display
1216 to show user selections in sections of the display 1216 above each
associated control, and alert levels on another section of the display.
In some embodiments, the indicators 1218-1222 may be configured through
the server to indicate specific options. In some embodiments, the
indicators 1218-1222 may not be operatively associated with specific
options. For example, one or more knobs may be freely rotatable, wherein
the actuation of a second knob 1204 may cause display 1216 to show the
current selected option associated with second knob 1204 and rotation of
the second knob 1204 causes the selected option and depiction thereof to
change to reflect a new selection. For illustration, a display may show
the current selected range of 50 miles used when traveling rural areas,
but as the user enters a more populous area, the user may rotate the
range knob in a direction to reduce the range to 1 mile. In some
embodiments, certain controls may be restricted by a third party. For
example, a company may set certain restrictions on configuring user
devices 1200 provided by the company to employees or contractors.

[0207] In some embodiments, the system may use separate servers, wherein
one server facilitates operation, communication, and/or implementation of
the system while another server facilitates user management, control,
setup, and/or configuration of the system. In other embodiments, one
server may be used for both system operation elements and system
configuration elements. One skilled in the art will recognize that the
number of components, such as servers, user devices, databases, user
input devices, etc., in a system may vary and remain within the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the various operations
and management components may be applicable to other embodiments and/or
figures disclosed herein. For example, operation of an electromagnetic
signal detector and/or a mobile communication device may be configured
using an associated server. One skilled in the art will recognize that
the options, configurations, and/or settings may vary and remain within
the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0208] In some embodiments, first knob 1202 may be used to select
communication groups. For example, each of first indicators 1218 may
represent participant limitations on reception and/or distribution of
system broadcasts. The first indicators 1218 may represent options to
broadcast with all groups or separate selected user groups such as
family, friends, coworkers, etc.

[0209] In some embodiments, second knob 1204 may be used to select a range
of communication. For example, each of second indicators 1220 may
represent a different range for reception and/or distribution of system
broadcasts, such as 5 miles, 15, miles, 30, miles, etc.

[0210] In some embodiments, third knob 1206 may be used to select
direction limitations. For example, each of third indicators 1222 may
represent directional limitations on reception and/or distribution of
system broadcasts. The third indicator 1222 may represent options to
broadcast in all directions or separate identified directions such as
ahead, behind, the same traveling direction, the opposite traveling
direction, etc.

[0211] In some embodiments, the first slide control 1208 may be used to
control potentially variable filters such as volume, range, etc. For
example, the operative range of communication may increase as the slide
1210 is moved in a first direction, and the operative range of
communication may decrease as the slide 1210 is moved in a second
direction. In other embodiments, the first slide control 1208 may be used
to switch between modes of operation such as a radio mode and a system
mode.

[0212] The second slide control 1212 is shown as a three-way selector
wherein, the slide 1214 may be associated with one of the three options
represented by fourth indicators 1224. For example, the second slide
control 1212 may allow the user to select a current user status for the
system. In some embodiments, the user status may indicate the user is
available, busy, invisible, or another status. When the user device is
set to an available status other users of the system can identify the
user of user device 1200. When the user device is set to a busy status
other users of the system can identify the user of user device 1200, but
are notified that the user is busy and may not actively participate in
the communication. When the user device is set to an invisible status
other users of the system cannot identify the user of user device 1200,
however, the user may be listening to other user's broadcasts and/or
recordings.

[0213] In some embodiments, the display 1216 may be used to show alerts
levels, upcoming recordings, other users of the system, and/or other
information. For example, when approaching locations having alert levels,
the alert level may be posted on the display 1216 or a portion thereof.
For another example, when engaging in a broadcast communication, other
user names or call signs may be displayed for easy reference.

[0214] In some embodiments, the display 1216 depict an altered background
color (such as green, yellow, red, etc.) to indicate the current alert
level while continuing to show other relevant information, such as the
available users for broadcast communication. The alert level associated
with the user device 1200 may be based upon the user's historical and/or
current driving characteristics, an analysis of aggregated data, and/or
other information. For example, an analysis system may determine a high
alert level based upon an analysis of aggregated data, but the user
device 1200 may override the alert level based upon a determination that
the user is traveling at or below the posted speed for the area. In such
an example, the user device may not provide an indication on display
1216, or may provide an indication, such as a blue background, to
represent the existence of an alert and the user's current compliance
with the speed limit. In some embodiments, display 1216 may provide an
indication that other users of the system have been ahead of you on the
current path recently and no alerts have been identified. For example, a
green background on display 1216 may indicate the road has been cleared
by other vehicles within the prior 15 minutes.

[0215] One skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects of
the user interface of user device 1200 may differ and remain within the
scope and spirit of the disclosure. For example, one or more of the knobs
1202-1206 and slide controls 1208 and 1212 may be replaced and/or
modified with other user controls such as buttons, switches, voice
controls, touch-screen applications and/or other components. In some
embodiments, user device 1200 may include a display 1216 for
communicating information received from the disclosed systems, but not
include any user controls. In such embodiments, user device 1200 may be
operatively associated with other devices which may operate as a user
interface for user device 1200. The external user input controls may be
associated with other devices operatively associated with user device
1200 such as a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a satellite
phone, a navigation system, a personal digital assistant, a portable
computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a vehicle component,
and/or any other device with a user interface.

[0216] For another example, the display 1216 may not be provided on other
embodiments of user device 1200. In such an embodiment, the information
discussed in conjunction with display 1216 may be communicated to the
user through alternative means, such as audible, mechanical, tactile
and/or other outputs from user device 1200. In other embodiments,
information discussed in conjunction with display 1216 may be
communicated to the user through alternative displays and/or outputs
associated with other external devices operatively associated with user
device 1200 such as a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a
satellite phone, a navigation system, a personal digital assistant, a
portable computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a vehicle
component, and/or any other device with a user interface.

[0217] FIG. 20 depicts another embodiment of a user device associated with
the systems of the present disclosure. This embodiment shows a radar
detector 1300 which may be operatively associated with one or more of the
systems of the present disclosure. Radar detector 1300 is shown with a
first display 1302, a second display 1304, and buttons 1306.

[0218] In some embodiments, first display 1302 and/or second display 1304
may be a liquid crystal display, a projected image, and/or any display
known or yet to be discovered. In some embodiments, first display 1302
and/or second display 1304 may be an alternative form of visual
indicator, such as a series of light-emitting diodes. In some
embodiments, the first display 1302 may comprise one type of display,
such as a liquid crystal display, while the second display 1304 comprises
a different type of display, such as a series of light-emitting diodes.

[0219] In some embodiments, first display 1302 may provide one type of
information, while the second display 1304 provides another type of
information. For example, first display 1302 may provide information from
the systems of the present disclosure--such as predicted alert levels,
recordings, weather alerts, communication system users, etc. At the same
time, second display 1304 may provide information regarding
electromagnetic signal detections of radar detector 1300. Similarly,
other output mechanisms, such as audible outputs, mechanical outputs,
tactile outputs, and other outputs, may be associated with different
sources of data and alert information. For example, an audio output of
radar detector 1300 may be solely associated with alerts provided by
system 600 and not based upon internal signal detections. In some
embodiments, the displays 1302 and 1304 may operate in conjunction
providing alerts and/or information. In such embodiments, the displays
1302 and 1304 may utilize alternative indications to represent the source
of information. For example, an orange color in either display 1302 or
1304 may indicate the information is from the internal components of
radar detector 1300, and a blue color in either display 1302 or 1304 may
indicate the information is from one or more of the systems of the
present disclosure.

[0220] Some embodiments of radar detector 1300 may not include buttons
1306. For example, one or more of the buttons 1306 may be replaced and/or
modified with other user controls such as knobs, switches, voice
controls, touch-screen applications and/or other components. In some
embodiments, radar detector 1300 may include one or more of displays 1302
and 1304 for communicating information received from the internal
electromagnetic signal detector and/or the systems of the present
disclosure, but not include any user controls. In such embodiments, radar
detector 1300 may be operatively associated with other devices which may
operate as a user interface for radar detector 1300.

[0221] Some embodiments of the radar detector 1300 may operate as a black
box without a user interface. In such embodiments, the radar detector
1300 may comprise electromagnetic signal detector components and a
communication component to interface with the systems and/or devices of
the present disclosure. For example, the radar detector 1300 may detect a
radar signal and send data regarding the detection to a mobile
communication device using the communication component. The mobile
communication device may further communicate the detection data to other
components of the systems of the present disclosure and receive
information from the other components. In addition, the mobile
communication device associated with the radar detector 1300 may operate
as a user interface for controlling the operation of radar detector 1300.
In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may operate as a
conduit to pass detection data to the systems of the present disclosure.
In some such embodiments, the mobile communication device may operate as
a display for alerts provided by components of the systems other than the
radar detector 1300.

[0222] The invention being thus described and further described in the
claims, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. The
descriptions associated with various embodiments may be applicable to
other embodiments of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to
be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and
all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are
intended to be included within the scope of the system, method, or
computer program product described.